Advent is a season full of lessons. Rather like New Year’s resolutions (I gave up years ago), Advent seems to bring with it the desire to do better, the hope of a more focused season, and, sadly, the disappointment of Christmas coming and going yet again without having achieved the desired spiritual focus and impact.

This year has been no exception. I planned to celebrate a meaningful Advent season. Truly. Yet, despite my best intentions, Advent arrived to find me completely unprepared. I awoke one day to discover (thanks to a Tweet from a more diligent observer) that the first Sunday of Advent had arrived and I was not ready. The rest of the Advent season has been no better.