Advent Season
Not long ago, there was some discussion on my feed about decorating for Christmas. Not really discussion, I guess. Just people mentioning that they were dragging out the pre-lit tree and all the decor. For me, though, we don’t decorate for Christmas so early.
We observe Advent.
Advent is an invitation to enter into silence. In that silence, we call to mind why we need a Savior and the dark lonely years leading up to the miracle at Bethlehem. We also acknowledge the “little advents” that occur everyday, where God breaks into our lives, while we also wait for that big “advent” at the end of our lives. Finally, we think about that final advent, when Jesus returns at the end of all things to wrap up this world like a gift and present it to His Father in Heaven. If we are alive at that time, will we be ready?
As usual, we’ll mark the time with an advent wreath. Decorating will wait until Christmas Eve Day. Also, my way of entering into silence this year will involve using a “dumb” phone in place of a smartphone, avoiding YouTube entirely, and limiting my desktop time.
How about you? Do you observe Advent? If so, in what way?
November Posts
The Blackwater Files
Late last month, I decided to take part in The Blackwater Files prompt given by
. My character, Anna, has retrograde amnesia and signs up for a dream study with the sketchy pharmaceutical company, Elysium. She hopes that the study will trigger her memories but it triggers something much more sinister.This is a multi-part story and I’m not sure how many parts. Possibly six. I will also not be updating on a schedule. The posts will come when they want and they’ll be posted with minimal editing. If you’re interested, click the link below to read Part One and go over to The Chronicler’s Substack to read more entries.
December’s Story
Now on to this month’s content. I tried to write a sweet, fluffy Christmas story but what came stumbling out of my subconscious was…
“The Dark Hunter” — Alexie lost most of his family to the being known as the Dark Hunter. Ignoring the warnings from his elders, he goes into the Blackwood for revenge but all Alexie finds is Hunger.
Excerpt:
There were few things colder than the Blackwood in the heart of winter.
Alexie’s boots crunched against the cold snow, his breath puffing white on the frigid air. He paused. The only movement was the erratic fall of intermittent snowflakes. He hadn’t seen or heard a bird in the last hour. The fir and spruce trees loomed around him. He adjusted his grip on his bow.
In another two hours, it would be too dark to walk, so he needed to look for a campsite. But the wild hunger that had first driven him into the Blackwood urged him on.
Just a little further, it whispered, as soft as snow. Just a little deeper. What if you stop too soon?
Alexie continued walking.
“The Dark Hunter” will be published on Friday, December 8.