By Rori Blakeney

It’s about 7 days out from Christmas. If you are like me you are frazzled to the max. Christmas parties. Shopping. Cooking. And, yes, a host of activities at the church.

The big question is “How can I remain spiritually centered during the madness?”

Here’s a suggestion: Live into the Word. Experience the Christmas story anew and afresh by focusing on the story. Not from memory, but read the story. Consider reading it from a different translation than your favorite version. Perhaps, you might want to read the account found in the lectionary reading. Whatever text you choose, I challenge you to live in to it.

We need to drink from the Living Word.

Perhaps, the four words – hope, love, peace and joy -- your congregation focuses on doing the Advent reading can be your starting point. An interesting perspective is from the individuals in the story. There are many ways we can view scripture.

Try the practice of Lectio Divina. A traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer, it is intended to offer an opportunity for deep communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word.

After all, in the busyness of the season, we need to drink from the Living Word. God’s word does offer us refuge in challenging times. So, this season, break the routine and live into the Christmas story.