Advent signifies, among other things, the beginning of a new church year. The thought occurred to me this morning that a person doesn’t have to be a church member to celebrate Advent. Advent can also be a new beginning to one’s relationship with God.

Why wait until the new calendar year? When my walk with God has suffered for the past year, why not start anew at a time when the faithful and faithless are promised God’s gift of grace? What better gift to give myself and others than the acknowledgement that God’s grace is greater than anything I can do for myself?