Jessie, Nancy, Kaitlin, Julie, Arrianne and Kate walking in nature during their December Sabbath Day.

The first snow of the season covered our Indiana earth this morning. The news was filled with reports of car crashes and slide offs even though the snow fall was minimal.

I looked out my window to see the beautiful white blanket of snow that covered my yard, and I noticed my children playing in the snow with joy.

I wondered if this is what Jesus meant when He said, let the children teach us. This season is full of activity for many of us. We rush to class and work. We rush home. We rush to our holiday gatherings. We rush to get our homes ready for guests. We rush to go shopping.

Advent is a time to pause, remember and reflect on what this time of year is really about. Our PVMs had an opportunity to do this on Dec. 4 during their winter Sabbath Day.

They spent an hour in nature walking at Eagle Creek Park, noticing God surrounding them. They spent time in quiet and in reflection back in a warm home sipping slowly on hot chocolate afterwards.

They listened to each other. Laughter and tears were both shared as they took time to really be present to each other. They took time to pause from their busy volunteer service work schedules.

Isn’t this the invitation to all of us at Advent time; to slow down and just pause? How might the morning commutes be different, if each of the drivers slow down and appreciate the beauty of the snowfalls our Creator God blesses us with?

Happy Advent!

Julie Szolek-Van Valkenburgh
PVM director

For more information about Providence Volunteer Ministry contact Julie at pvm@spsmw.org or 317-695-4634.