So…my call a few weeks ago, was simply to make it to the manger.  And I had all of advent to do it.  And I did make it to the manger.  I made that journey…and I knelt at the feet of my Rabbi, my teacher, my savior, my king.

And then, all to suddenly, I turned around and left.  It is as if I said, “sweet, I made it here…now, let’s get back home.” 

In my eyes, of all God’s promises in the bible and in life, His greatest promise is that he will be present.  Through the pain, joy, sorrow, and happiness of life, he is present through it all.

I wasn’t very present to God when I made it to manger. 

It’s amazing how, once we get there, we simply begin focusing on how to get back home.  After such a long journey to the manger…after weeks of preparation, gifts given, gifts recieved, joy spread, pain felt, decorations up, and back down again…after all that, you’d think I would have lingered at the manger a few more moments…

But it’s amazing how life catches back up…so here I am…yearning again for the manger…when, just a few weeks ago, I was there, and should have stayed longer.

So, Lord, turn me back.  Keep me focused on you and your son.  It’s about 11 months before the world travels to the manger again, but keep my heart, and mind, and spirit on you, and I’ll make the journey again.

Maybe next year I’ll linger a bit longer.