Advent for Chronic Depressives

Many people understand the Advent commission to "be still" to listen for the voice of God as a charge to eliminate all "distractions" like Facebook and email.  And maybe for happy extroverts that's wise.  But I find as a chronic depressive introvert that the LAST thing I need in the dark of December is to isolate myself.  In the wintertime, I need more than ever to keep all bridges of social connection wide open and clear of snow and ice!  It's so easy to hunker down in my quiet solitude and mull over all the deep feelings my depressive soul conjures up.  But is that God's voice?  Or just my own Sad Self sliding off the road into a ditch of despair?  Probably the latter, at least in my decades of experience.

So I stay right on Facebook, and email and text all those folks who swear off Facebook for the duration of Advent, to stay connected to God's voice in humanity.  God as heard through other people speaks a lot more hope and joy than the God I tend to hear in my own head in the heavy dark of winter.  I focus instead on the anticipation of Advent, knowing that something astounding is building in the heavens, soon to be born to the glorious singing of angels and stupefaction of shepherds abiding in the fields.  I can barely contain myself...