Christmas creches of the holy family in a winter stable surrounded by sweet animals are everywhere this time of year. But Advent invites us to think a bit more deeply. The cold of winter invites us to slow down. When we do, we notice that using a barn for a delivery room was decidedly unsanitary. Daily life on this planet is a lot like a real barn with its noises and smells and dirt. When the King of heaven bent so low that he began life in a smelly barn, he showed us that he is completely aware of what life is like here today and he promises not to leave all as it is. We encourage you to dive deeper into Advent through a reflection and practices offered by Beth Ratzlaff.