What if Christmas could mean something real again—not just the hustle and tinsel, but something honest that speaks to the chaos we're all feeling?As I lean into creative rest this December, I'm re-airing one of my most beloved Advent interviews with artist and author Scott Erickson about his stunning book Honest Advent. This conversation absolutely changed how I see Christmas.Scott shares how he went from feeling disconnected from Christmas ("elves and reindeer and buy stuff") to discovering the profound vulnerability in the Incarnation story. He invites us into an honest hope—not cheap or shallow, but real hope that can hold the weight of our exhausted, divided world.In this conversation, we explore:Why creativity is a backdoor to what's really happening in our heartsThe "haunting" or invitation we feel toward creating and saying yes to something moreHow Scott transitioned from art teacher to full-time artist and what that cost himWhy paying attention to Mary's embodied experience and vulnerability matters for all of usThe cost of divine revelation How the Incarnation—God becoming fully human—invites us to pay attention to our own humanity and find God in our midstScott's perspective is refreshing, honest, and deeply creative. His book Honest Advent has become one of my go-to resources every December, and I flip through it in the mornings letting his art and essays speak to my heart.If you've ever felt like Christmas has lost its meaning in the midst of a complex, chaotic world—this conversation is for you. Because the offering of Advent is the offering of hope. And an honest Advent leads us to an honest hope.ABOUT SCOTT ERICKSONScott Erickson is a touring painter, performance artist, and creative instigator. His work focuses on the collision of art, spirituality, and meaning-making through meditative art pieces that open backdoors to the heart. He's the author of several books including Honest Advent, Prayer: Forty Days of Practice, and Say Yes: Discover the Surprising Life Beyond the Death of a Dream.RESOURCES MENTIONEDBook: Honest Advent by Scott Erickson Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, local bookstores, and at HonestAdvent.comFollow Scott's Work: Instagram: @scottthepainter (His daily art posts are absolutely worth following!) Website: scottericksonart.comQUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE"Revelation is a hard gift to receive. You must give up everything else to receive it." - Scott Erickson"I don't want Christmas to feel insignificant in a complex and chaotic world. Can celebrating Christmas mean anything this year? My belief is yes. My hope is yes.""We find a God who's not insulating itself from the human experience, but is fully participating in it. And so then we, in our full human participation, can find God in our midst.""I want an honest Advent because the offering of Advent is the offering of hope. Not a cheap hope, not a shallow hope, but a real honest hope that can deal with the realities of the world we find ourselves in."CREATIVE REST REMINDERAs I mentioned in last week's episode on Sacred Rest, I'm taking creative rest this December. That means I'm re-airing some of my most impactful Advent content and encounters rather than creating brand new episodes from scratch. Rest isn't failure—it's faithfulness. And I'm modeling what I preach.COMING UP NEXTMore Advent encounters to prepare your heart for ChristmasHolistic wellness update for 2026Continuing our journey through the Psalms in the new yearCONNECT WITH KRISTIN📱 Instagram: @kristinfieldschadwick 📘 Facebook: Kristin Fields Chadwick🌐 Website: www.kristinfieldschadwick.com ✉️ Email: [email protected]💚 Want to join the 10K Steps & Vitamin D Challenge? Message me on Instagram or Facebook and I'll add you to our group chat!☕ Support the Podcast: buymeacoffee.com/kristinchadwickSHARE THIS EPISODEKnow someone who needs an honest hope this Advent? Share this episode with them! Tag me @kristinfieldschadwick on Instagram and let me know what resonated with you.Wholistic Hearts Podcast Hosted by Kristin Fields Chadwick Where we encounter Jesus through Christian meditation and imagination From the head to the heart#WholisticHearts #HonestAdvent #ScottErickson #AdventSeason #ChristianArt #HonestHope #CreativeRest #Incarnation