November 27, 2009
The Second Half
‘It’s All Too Much’
BY DEACON JIM AND ANN CAVERA
At breakfast this morning we watched an interview with Peter Walsh. He writes books about how to get rid of stuff and lead an organized life. We once bought a book on how to get organized, but it disappeared years ago. Maybe we still have it somewhere on a bookshelf, or it could be in one of the boxes we didn’t unpack when we moved a while back. We can’t decide whether or not to buy Walsh’s book, but the title, “It’s All Too Much,” describes the way we often feel at the beginning of Advent.
Over the years, we have developed a kinder, gentler approach to Advent. Instead of running around looking for things, we have come to realize spending time preparing our house is an investment in our emotional health. Doing it early sets a good tone for the rest of the season. Putting up Christmas decorations Thanksgiving morning is easier now that we go to our son’s house for the holiday.
We know many people rely on e-mail for communication, but we still like sending real cards in the mail. Sitting down and making out cards gives us time to remember friends and good times from the past. Okay, so we always plan to get this done before Thanksgiving, but we haven’t evolved that far yet.
Each year our gift list gets a little simpler. Last year one of us planned to make “cookies in a jar” as small gifts for neighbors. We still have the unused quart canning jars we bought last year for making these and we might actually use them this year. To make these, dry ingredients for cookies are pre-mixed and layered in jars. A recipe card is attached. Not only does this gift let the recipient decide whether to have cookies now, or six months from now, there is no actual dough or cookies for us to eat. Another bonus is that unbaked cookies are quicker and more energy efficient than baked ones. For directions, go to the Internet and type in “recipe cookies in a jar. ”Many sites offer instructions and recipes for dozens of these mixes.
“It’s All Too Much” also struck a chord when we read the gospel for the first Sunday of Advent. “Nations in dismay . . . people dying of fright . . . hearts drowsy from carousing, drunkenness, anxiety. Those words, though ancient, sound too current for comfort. Perhaps that is why Advent is such a gift. Over the years we have come to realize how much we need this season for spiritual renewal. Prayer leads us to gifts that involve our hearts. The hungry and the unborn need us more than ever. Prayer keeps us focused on the needs of food pantries and pregnancy centers.
Many of the most treasured gifts we can give cost no more than a little thought and time. Do I know of anyone who needs an apology from me? Can I make time to listen to someone or visit someone who is sick? Is there someone I can call that I haven’t spoken to for a long time? Can I make something for a child or a neighbor? In these troubled times, we need a season that is more in tune with the simplicity of a carpenter from Nazareth.
Deacon Jim and Ann Cavera are former residents of Evansville; their award-winning column is a regular feature of the Message. Contact them at www.catholicseniorspirit.com.