Finding satisfaction in the simple

Today is Christmas Eve's eve and a Friday to boot.  Holiday parties galore will be in store tonight, among many other festivities.  Last minute shoppers will be making those desperate trips back to the mall.  Many may also be hitting the highways and byways to spend Christmas Day with family.

There was a time in my life where these days before Christmas would be filled with social event after social event.  It would not be unusual to go to a party, out for a drink with the co-workers or take in another type of Christmas frivolity.

But over the years, and most especially this year, I'm more than happy with the satisfaction I find in the simple.  Being concerned just over a week ago about a possible huge health scare, which proved to be very manageable without surgery, has helped remind me about perspective.  And now tonight, surrounded by all of my immediate family, something that happens only rarely, I'm very content.  As my son James and his wife Sara arrived from North Carolina, they complete the family circle.  I guess we will be a little social tonight as the five of us head to town for dinner at one of our favorite eating establishments.

Having returned robustly to my faith some 15 or so years ago, and my ordination as a Deacon just 3 years ago, I find that its also beautifully satisfying to pray with the season.  To spend some time to just read the daily readings, praying the Advent O antiphons daily, reflecting on the beautiful Gospel stories from Luke and Matthew, is enough to sustain me on these December Christmas evenings.

The simple this year will include my service as a Deacon at two Masses this weekend; the always overflowing popular 4 p.m. vigil tomorrow afternoon and the 9 a.m. Christmas morning Mass.  The simple will include a party at a friends home tomorrow evening, but they live right across the street!  And the simple for Christmas Day will probably be not as simple, hosting Christmas dinner for 12.

I hope tonight, this friday night Christmas eve, eve that your experience of these last hours of Advent and Christmas 2011 will be full of the simple.  And I hope you find this remarkably satisfying!