Chat with Cat: Decorating Day

Today at Montreat we celebrated a seasonal tradition. All of us left our office chairs for a few hours this morning to pitch in and decorate the whole of Assembly Inn. There are wreaths in the dining room, trees in the lobby and in Convocation Hall, and beautiful garlands adorning the porch and the staircase.

Maybe the best part of this tradition is the potluck break we take at 10 a.m. There are crackers and dips, cookies and cakes, sweets and nuts, and all delicious. It's not just about eating food--there's something about the sharing of recipes and all the "mmm's" of agreement around the table that makes potlucks a very special community event. Ethel's homemade buttermints make it pretty special too.

All in all, Decorating Day is a day of preparation. In the church calendar, we are now three days into Advent, the season of waiting and of preparation. We are preparing for the coming of Christ, and we are also preparing to see our families, to share in special fellowship, and to begin a new year with new opportunities.

There is a lot to do. My hope for us this season is that we see this not as a busy time with lots of tasks to cross out, but as an opportunity to be mindful in our preparation. Take a moment among the craziness to slow down, think about where our traditions have come from, and consider where we might be going. Even buttermints are better when you take the time to enjoy them.

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Cat is the Sales Associate at Montreat Conference Center. She loves helping people plan the perfect Montreat Experience and would love to hear from you about how this blog can help you.

Cat can be reached at catw@montreat.org or at @Cat_Montreat.