We live contrary to Christmas when we complain about the hassles and compromises that are simply part of personal, family, and business life. We are to find Jesus, the spirit of God, amid all this.
Rather than begin with how we understand God and then, in light of that, pray, it's wiser to turn that around. Pray first. That changes how we understand God—and prayer. We learn faith itself by doing it, not by holding it in check until we've figured it all out.
You and I are told to be on the lookout for the new life that Easter is all about—a promise easy to miss amid all that's so wrong. "Take note!" It's soon to spring up on you!
Our call is not to be like Jesus but to be his disciples.