Michael McGirr has taken the idea of the perennial favourite – the Advent calendar – and created Doorways into Hope and Joy at Advent & Christmas.
Each day of Advent reveals a different doorway into the world around us. Accompanying each beautiful image is a scripture prompt and reflection that inspires the readers to consider the many different doorways through which God can come into their lives.
Advent and Christmas are supposed to be seasons of quiet anticipation and peaceful wonder. Yet, despite what the carol says, we have few silent nights and even fewer days when all is calm. Advent and Christmas have become times laden with every kind of expectation: work parties, school break-ups, present buying, heavy traffic, people to remember, and so on and on.
These prayers are a little breather. A rest from the hype.
A chance to just be ourselves for a moment, just as we are, with the God who wants to keep things simple.
Hopefully these words and images can help turn the silly season into the sanity season.
They aim to bring us closer to the one we love.