Open my eyes, that I may see  
the wonders of your law.  
Psalm 119:18    

This morning’s adventure is cozy cocoa black tea. A friend gifted me with a tea Advent calendar, and I feel a bit of excitement each time I open one of the doors to reveal the day’s selection. It began with a lovely honey chamomile, a pleasant way to ease into the dual seasons of Advent and winter. But now, this cozy cocoa…surprising and unusual.

Earlier this week I wrote the phrase “Advent adventure,” and realized I had never really thought of Advent this way. Adventures seem to me to be fast-paced, full of new vistas, trials and triumphs. I have always thought of Advent as an invitation to slow down, rediscover a familiar landscape, sink into quiet and contemplation. And yet, I can’t help but notice that the one word contains the other. Both are about arrival.

I sip my unexpected tea, paying attention to the play of flavors and aromas. God’s creation holds so many wonders. As I await the arrival of the most wondrous birth, I will now be on the lookout for other wonders to behold along the way. Perhaps this Advent, God is inviting me into new adventures and new vistas.