In the secular world, the preparation for Christmas begins earlier every year. It has become the norm to see Christmas decorations on sale before Halloween. Regardless of the state of the economy, there is always a way to attract people so they are excited about getting ready for Christmas.

But what about Advent, the spiritual preparation for Christmas? What can we do to ignite the spark that enables us to recognize that this very short period of time is important, certainly as important as everything else we do to get ready for the big holiday? How can we give care and attention to the spiritual preparation for Christmas in a way that somehow matches the time we put into shopping, baking and decorating?

The honest answer is that most of us probably will not give as much formal time to our spiritual preparation as we give to readying for the other traditions of the season. But I wonder if, in the midst of these other traditions, there is not an unconscious awareness of the spiritual.

As a young mother I began collecting nativity scenes. Perhaps collecting nativity sets and, especially, carefully placing them year after year throughout the house brought with it a sense of the true meaning of Christmas.

As the children needed to be cared for and holiday school projects and plays had to be attended, there seemed to be little time for formal prayer. I remember well the late-night shopping, wrapping and baking. Being sure each teacher got a special gift took hours of planning as did the Christmas lights, trees and other decorating.

Placing of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus as well as the shepherds, angels and kings in just the right place in the house may have been a form of prayer. It certainly was an acknowledgment of the birth of Christ that led to moments of teaching and discussion with the children. It also led to some unexpected quiet moments at night when candles were lit around the nativities. There was a sense of the sacred in all of this, even if, at the time, I did not think of it as prayer.

Could it be that much of what we do during the weeks prior to Christmas are forms of prayer by the very fact that we know what we are preparing for, and that so much of it is done out of love for others? Is it possible that baking cookies, decorating the tree and thoughtfully choosing gifts are forms of prayer? I think so --- if, in fact, we recognize that God is with us in all of the activity.

As we proceed through Advent in anticipation of Christmas, not everyone can avail themselves of the numerous opportunities for private and community prayer, given family and work responsibilities. There are, however, countless occasions to create moments of prayers as we peruse the aisles of the supermarket or maneuver through the malls. Our attitude toward fellow shoppers and clerks, colleagues and neighbors offer the chance to act in a way that models the Jesus we celebrate during this season. Writing (and reading) Christmas cards, wrapping gifts and cooking and baking are among the tasks that offer moments of prayer and the recognition that God is with us in all of our endeavors.

There is no one right way to live and experience Advent. God welcomes all of our attempts. God does not measure the time or grandiosity of our prayer. God smiles on sincerity.

Anne Hansen is a member of the Camarillo Catholic community. Her e-mail address is familymail@aol.com.