Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you.
Psalm 16:1

I walk in an indirect path, skirting patches of ice. Yesterday’s sun melted most of the remains of an earlier snow, but lingering damp places froze overnight. And there is the section of sidewalk that never remains clear. It is always windswept. No matter how thoroughly attended to, inevitably it will be covered again with leaves or snow or ice.

In my spiritual life also, some obstacles never disappear but rather become familiar. I recognize them and move around them. And when I am not paying attention I walk right into them and stumble. And then. Then I learn something more of God’s grace.

Whether I walk the Advent way with integrity or inattentively, I walk within God’s protection. And when I am caught up short, when I have to stop and rethink my way forward, I discover that I am not alone, have never been alone, because there is nowhere I can be that is beyond God’s love.