I'm new to Daylight Savings Time. I lived in Indiana all my life until we moved to Cleveland 3 years ago. Indiana did not decide to change clocks until 2005. I love it in the summer, but winter is tough. It seems it's always dark. It's difficult to stay awake in the evening. These are easy days to just curl up on the couch. Hibernation sounds very attractive.

Advent comes during this dark and sleepy time of year. Interestingly, the scriptures we read during this season are about staying awake, being alert, and on guard. That's not easy to do in Cleveland when we have the shortest day of the year to look forward to, in the cold and likely the snow. We are waiting for days to lengthen and the sun to shine. And it seems the wait is just too long.

In my morning devotions today, I was led to this:

I slept, but my heart was awake.
Song of Solomon 5:6

This is what Advent calls us to do. Even when we are asleep -- or distracted by our worries or all we have to do -- some part of us is awake and waiting. That part, however small, is where God is keeping us awake by his love.

Blessings,
Pastor Kris

A suggestion for today's prayer: for those who struggle through winter with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or other forms of depression.

with thanks to Stephanie Paulsell writing in The Christian Century, "Kept awake by love" December 1, 2009, for leading me to this scripture.