Advent Calendar 2017 | #1StepMore

Welcome to Advent, the season celebrated to prepare for the coming of Christ in our world. If you are like most of us, these days leading to Christmas are full of the holiday rush. Between finding that perfect gift to hitting up the many Christmas parties and happy hours, it’s easy to lose sight of what this season offers. Noise drowns our attention, and growing to-do lists diminish our ability to be fully present in the moment.

Enter #1StepMore — Grotto’s invitation to take a different approach this season.

Beyond the hustle and buzz, Advent calls us to a special period of waiting. This is not a passive waiting, but one that begs us to respond with an urgent sense of attentiveness — to become aware of the presence of God within our midst. We don’t simply recall Jesus’s coming to our world some 2,000 years ago under a starry sky in Bethlehem. In this unique period of active waiting, we uncover a new sense of hope and find, once again, true joy that illumines a world grown dim.

How?

By becoming light bearers, by taking #1StepMore to do something for another. Our small actions lead to a sense of discovery — about who we are and where needs exist. Even the tiniest of actions can transform the world, and as we seek to remain attentive to the needs around us, we, in turn, grow aware of the gifts before us. So attentiveness opens our hearts to experiencing life in its most full sense, where Light prevails and Love conquers all.

Will you join us?

Each day at 6 a.m. EST, the Grotto team will release a new challenge on our Advent Calendar. Stop by often, and join the conversation on social media.

We hope you will walk with us this Advent, strive to live with an attentive spirit, and take #1StepMore in making our world a bit brighter!