New Years Reflections

I love the turning of the calendar for a new year. This year, 2010, is special in several ways.

One it is a new decade (though I understand some don’t agree that the new decade begins now, I chose to believe so).  My personality loves to plan, so my mind races with one year and ten year dreams.

Second, on this new year’s eve a rare blue month will grace the sky. The last time a blue moon occurred at the end of the year was in 1990. The phrase “once in a blue moon” means a rare or unlikely event.  Blue moons are really not anything superstitious; just means the second full month occurring within one month.  I just think it is neat: like a symbol of a rare and outstanding new year approaching.

If you want to read a great column about this, I invite you to check out what Suzette Standring wrote. By the way she has a great book on the Art of Column Writing.

I am optimistic for the coming year. I honestly believe things will be better for our country and the world. I believe one person can make a difference so I for one will at least try to make a difference in my neck of the woods.

Here are some inspirational thoughts to start your new year off in a positive step:

"A new year is unfolding—like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within. Lord, let this year be filled with the things that are truly good—with the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and openness to accept help from others.
    As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible—with Your help and guidance." Anonymous

Recipe for a Happy New Year.
    Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.
    Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.  Anonymous

A New Year’s Prayer.
Dear Lord, please give me…

A few friends who understand me and remain my friends;
  
A work to do which has real value,
 without which the world would be the poorer;
  
A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed;
  
An understanding heart;
  
A sense of humor;
  
Time for quiet, silent meditation;
  
A feeling of the presence of God;
  
The patience to wait for the coming of these things,

With the wisdom to recognize them when they come. Amen.

Dear friends, thank you for reading my blog this past year and I hope you will continue this coming year to join me in the spiritual journey.

Jeanie

GOD THE GARDENER AND HIS SEED CATALOG

They begin arriving at the same time every year - crispy new, chock full of colorful photographs and spilling over with new ideas - the seed catalogs, booklets containing exciting hope-filled glimpses of the future.

Gardening blossomed as a hobby for me the last few years. I am far from being an expert, but I do like to experiment with new plants. One of the best parts is the middle of the cold winter planning - what seeds to consider, new ways to cultivate and nourish the soil and how best to nurture what is already planted to it fullest bloom.

Much like spiritual growth.

This is a very special week - the end and beginning of a year and actually the end and beginning of a decade. I take time this week to put my hopes and dreams for 2010 down on paper. Where do I want to be at the end of the year as a writer, a speaker, a spiritual director, and a retreat leader?  More importantly where is God leading me spiritually?

Same as the gardening plans: What seeds is God inviting me to consider to plant this year?
Where does He want me to dig deeper in cultivating my soul?
How will He lead me in nurturing what is already started into fuller bloom?
Is there something within me to dig up and cast off?
What is there that hasn’t bloomed yet? 
What plants well established need to be thinned out?

This is the time to nourish my roots, to dig deeper into prayer and the Word of God to develop a healthy foundation.

God is a gardener.  One of the first acts he did after creation is to plant a garden.

In Luke’s Gospel (13:6-9) Jesus told the following parable,
 “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s taking up space we can use for something else.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.’”

Jesus portrays God as a patient gardener, giving each plant what it needs to thrive.

Many settings in Jesus’ life occurs in gardens.

God loves gardening and I believe he loves to plant, cultivate, and nurture our souls into beautiful landscapes reflecting his love. God takes out his seed catalog this time of year and smiles upon our waiting hearts.

“ I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. “ John 15:1
“...but only God , who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:5
“You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11b

May I be open to what God’s hands plant within me.

Weekend Reflections on the Word of God - December 27, 2009

Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”
Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.
Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.
Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary.
Come into the presence of the Lord.

The Visit of the Magi

 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-11 (NIV)


When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.


The Wise men didn’t have maps.
The Magi didn’t use their new GPS unit.
Their camels didn’t know the route as they traveled into new territory.


They just looked up and heaven became their guide.


Lord so often I look down, not up. 


Disappointment blinds my eyes from seeing your hand upon me, leading me on my spiritual journey.
Discouragement numbs me from feeling your gentle, reassuring nudge of love and guidance.
The noise of busyness buzzes so loud that I don’t hear your words of wisdom.


My reaction?  


I look down at my feet for some hint of where to go.
I look down at the path where I have walked in the past hoping for a glimpse of the future.
I look down upon the gift of life you so graciously have given me, forgetting its value and purpose.
When I feel lost, confused, unloved I look in the wrong direction. The Magi taught me a valuable lesson.


The Magi  looked up. 


They looked up when they were lost, wandering in places they have never been before.
They drew upon what God taught them earlier about following his star and trusted in that guidance to lead them.
They didn’t let discouragement, disappointment and the urgency of everyday busyness clutter their sense of direction - they looked up.


The Magi looked up to heaven with each step and they not only were overjoyed, they found Christ!


May we all look up more often on our path of life.

Christmas Meditations

Love, Peace and Joy Coming Down at Christmas

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest,  and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2: 9-14

“Love came down on Christmas Day so many years ago and brought the greatest happiness the world would ever know. Peace came down on Christmas Day to fill the hearts of men with all the sweet tranquility each Christmas brings again. Joy came down on Christmas Day as angels came to earth heralding the miracle of our Messiah’s birth.”
Author Unknown

Emmanuel - God is with us

"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."- Matthew 1:23

"God has entrusted his last, deepest and most beautiful word to the world, in the Word made flesh. This Word says: I love you world, man and woman. I am there. I am with you. I am your life. I am your time. I weep your tears. I am your joy. Do not be afraid. When you do not know how to go any further, I am with you. I am in your anguish, because I suffered it myself. I am in your need and your death, because today I began to live and to die with you. I am your life. I promise you: for you,too, life is waiting. For you, too, the gates will open." These moving words are from Karl Rahner at the closing of a Christmas sermon copied from a wonderful Christian blog by Colleen Spiro

A Baby Changed Everything

 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east[a] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.Matthew 2:9-11

On June 5 2009, a baby changed everything. Kyla Eve my granddaughter was born. I wrote on this blog: “Did you hear it? That loud whooshing noise last Friday? At the exact moment of my new granddaughter's birth, with her first intake of air, Kyla Eve stole my heart. Love for this new child swiftly gushed into my core and changed me forever.”

I imagine Mary and Joseph felt the same as they held the newborn Jesus in their arms. Not only were they changed forever, but the whole world changed. God’s love whooshed into each of our hearts, healing us with his love.

A Baby changed everything.

The Word of Life

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1: 1-5

May the Word dwell within each one of us as we come and adore the newborn King. May God continue to bless you and hold you in his arm this Holy Christmas season and for the rest of your eternal life.
Jeanie

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

Most of the time when I pray I say my own words, but find slowly reciting what others have written often opens my eyes to see in new ways. May these words bring light to your Christmas season and joy to your heart.

Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

-- Robert Louis Stevenson

Gabriel's Surprise Visit to Mary

 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

  "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

  The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

   "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1: 26-38

“Do not be afraid.”

Lord, I identify with Mary’s reaction. If an angel suddenly appeared in front of me I too would be “greatly troubled.”  How frightening this unearthly appearance must have been!  But God is a God of peace, not fear.

“Do not be afraid.”

Then curiosity would begin to rise in my heart. Who is this and why would an angel visit me? Mary’s mind raced to thousands of possibilities, probably none of them correct. God is a God of surprises, not impossibilities.

“Do not be afraid.”

She didn’t foolishly run from you nor did she blindly obey at first. She listened. I imagine her whole body tickled with intense attention to every word the angel told her. She respectfully discerned this was a true message from you. Then she dared to ask a question. God is a God we can approach with questions in our hearts.

“Do not be afraid.”

Mary’s obedience  - “May it be to me as you have said.” - is courageous, obedient and humble. Lord may I obey you as she did. My fear holds me back. My ego screams “My will, not the Lord’s.”  My mind clings to all the other clutter in my life that demands top priority other than you. God is a God of forgiveness, guidance, and love.

“Do not be afraid.”

Thank you Lord for your peace, surprises, approachability, forgiveness, guidance and love. Thank you for coming to Mary with the message “Do not be afraid.” Thank you for sending Jesus to be born, to live, to die and to live again so we can live without fear the life you gave us. Listening to the angel and pondering what this must be have been like for Mary, leads me to conclude:

I will not be afraid.

Two Unusual Christmas Miracles

Christmas opens adult eyes to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Lately, glimpses of God’s miracles, one in a moment of pain and the other in fun, caught my attention.

Miracle of Night Vision

OUCH! My big toe throbbed as the chair in the pitch black living room jumped out to trip me the other night. Stupid chair! Who put it there anyway?

The instant I flipped the lights off to head towards bed, my once clear vision disappeared. Total darkness surrounded me. Groping at the walls to orient my journey, I limped down the hallway.

Slowly, the objects previously veiled in darkness materialized. My night vision kicked into gear.

What a gift it is to see even in the darkness. Just think: When God created us, not only did HE give us the ability to see in the light, but built in adjusters for when it is dark.

I stubbed my toe because I took off too quickly on my own without allowing time for my eyes to get accustomed to the darkness. Just like when I rush ahead of God instead of waiting for His light to shine the way on the darker paths of life.

I am thankful for the miracle of night vision.

Miracle of Imagination

Imagination adds flavor and fun to everyday life events.

Last week I drove to Findlay Ohio for a meeting. Nothing out of the ordinary. Waiting in a long string of traffic at a stoplight, I glanced around at the neighborhood businesses.

Then I saw it!

In fact, I looked at it several times, even saying the words aloud to be certain I was reading the sign correctly.

The corner marquee displayed all the names of the businesses inside its corporate building. About half way down the list, this business proudly added its title:

PARAKEET PILATES

Now that is an interesting thought. Parakeets taking Pilates classes. MMMMM, little stick sized legs going up and down, following the directions by the head bird, perhaps Macaws. I think if I had a parakeet I would want to give him a matching mat to exercise on and to complement his feather colors. I wonder when their workout is done do they join each other at the gourmet seed bar?

Giggling with tears in my eyes, I almost didn’t see the light change to green. The memory of that day still brings a smile on my face.

What fun, Lord, you provide if we just look around. I sure am glad when You created us, you threw in a handful of pixie dust called imagination.

I am thankful for the miracle of imagination.

Christmas opens our adult eyes to see the greatest miracle of all - the birth of Jesus. He came to save us and wants a relationship with us. He surrounds us with his gifts such a being able to see at night and to find his joy through imagination.

I am thankful for all of His miracles, great and small.

Weekend Reflections on the Word of God - December 13, 2009

Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”
Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.
Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.
Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary.
Come into the presence of the Lord.

Yes, I know what plans I have in mind for you, the Lord declares, plans for peace, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
When you call to me and come and pray to me, I shall listen to you.
When you search for me, you will find me; when you search wholeheartedly for me,
I shall let you find me. Jeremiah 29:11-14a (New Jerusalem Bible)

"I shall let you find me."

Lord, I never realized before you like Hide and Seek. I count to ten, then come searching for you. You peek out from behind that tree trunk you use to partially conceal yourself, knowing it shows exactly where you can be found.

I see you.
I run, hugging you saying, “Tag! You’re it!”
You laugh and scoop me up into your loving arms like a parent playing delightfully with a young child. The air explodes with joyous giggles of love.

"I shall let you find me."

At times I act so pious, like my prayers, meditations, and Bible study prove me worthy of your presence. I think my actions bring me to your attention, when all along you are here, waiting for me. Nothing I can do or say can make you magically appear upon my demand – YOU let me find you. What a promise!

God didn’t create us and then just disappear. He lets himself be found. He wants a relationship with us and to be with us. We just need to search for him with our whole heart.

God sent a star, so the Magi could easily find their way to Bethlehem.
God sent his angels, so the shepherds would know where to discover the baby lying in a manger.
God Himself came down from heaven to be born, to live and to die for us -
All so we can find him and be with him.

And the timeless miracle is this:

God says, “I shall let you find me.”

Christmas Nativity Scene Lessons

As empty nesters, we have slimmed down the amount of Christmas decorations we put up each year. I like the freshness of rearranging and the addition of the seasonal colors, but want to keep the “stuff” to a minimum. This year we didn’t find room for the nativity scene.

At first I thought, “That is ok. One less item to put away later. No one will miss it.” But I was wrong. I missed them. I retrieved the box from the basement storage.

The chipped, older than me, nativity scene is now displayed in its new location in my living room. I carefully unwrapped each of the characters: the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Wisemen and the angel.

In many homes and churches, the baby Jesus is often left out of the crib until Christmas day, representing the fact that He has not been born yet. Personally, I put the characters out all at once.

I glance at this holy scene every time I pass by; grateful I decided to dig them out of the box. Slowly they speak to my heart: there are lessons in pondering this most precious moment in time.

1. Pay attention to how nativity scenes are usually arranged.
Christ is the center.
He calls to me: “Am I the center of your life?”

2. The other characters stay in their ordered position at just the right angle – toward the newborn King. Not just glancing with their eyes, but leaning with their whole posture turned Jesus.
Christ is the center.
He calls to me: “Turn your whole self to me. Not just an obligatory, fleeting nod, but even in this busy holiday season, love me with your whole heart, soul, mind – your whole self.”

3. Each year the scene animates the account of Jesus’ birth. You would think the story would get boring, but it never does. The nativity almost comes alive with the ancient tale of how much God loves us – enough to take the form of a baby and come to each of us as his gift of salvation.
Christ is the center.
The nativity scene breaths in new life as Christ once more take center place in my heart.

At first I didn’t find room for the nativity scene this year. Now I am glad I did. The nativity scene reminded me once again that
Christ is the center.

Advent – Three W’s of this Spiritual Season

Advent calls me deeper this year. For the first time in many years, the season of Advent stirs up prayers between the Lord and me about waiting, wondering and making way for Christ. God is nourishing my spirit and renewing my heart during this special time of year.

Waiting
This year I have a growing sense of waiting, but the pause simmers in hope, anticipation and obedience. All this comes after a year of learning to trust the Lord more. Often he would whisper, “Do you trust me, Jeanie?” and I would surrender my ego once again. Waiting. Waiting, Lord, for you.

Wondering
My senses are heightened like a scene in a movie where the music builds and you just know a dramatic moment is about to take place. My spirit is on high alert: Pay attention, look about you and see the world with the eyes of a toddler chockfull of curiosity. What will I learn? I don’t know, but this daily practice of optimistic inquisitiveness fills me with hope.

Make Way for Christ
This time of year spills over with planning, baking, partying, and organizing cards and gifts. Lives saturated with “When are we getting together?” and “Oh, no, I forgot to send them a card” type of mentality. Rush, noise, tight budgets, and overpacked schedules dominate everything. Advent invites me to pause to make way for Christ as my first priority. Intentionally creating time in prayer and study opens my eyes to see him coming as the baby in the manger. Like Christmas gifts under the tree, I unwrapped my heart to Christ’s anticipated return.

How has the season of Advent nourished your spiritual growth this year?

Weekend Reflections on the Word of God - December 6, 2009

Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”
Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.
Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.
Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary.
Come into the presence of the Lord.

He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121: 3-4 (NIV)

Lord, you amaze me.

As I snuggled under the covers one night, drifting away into sleepy bliss, I thought: I wonder if God ever sleeps.

Then the next morning I read this verse. — he who watches over you will not slumber;

You watch over us all the time-
Never distracted by some giant to-do list
Never taking a break for cup of coffee
Never lifting your protective eyes from my life
Never thinking “I will only turn my back on her for a moment.”
Never forgetting where I am
Never losing me in the crowd of all the others you love and watch.

You watch over us all the time –
Always
Never sleeping
Always

Advent - 15 Inspirational Quotes about this Season of Anticipation

Advent is a time to wait, listen and ponder the awesome wonder of God who sent his only son as a baby to save us. Pause and spend some time this season reflecting on God's gift of love. Perhaps one of the following inspirational quotes will help:

"Advent, like its cousin Lent, is a season for prayer and reformation of our hearts. Since it comes at winter time, fire is a fitting sign to help us celebrate Advent…If Christ is to come more fully into our lives this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer. Our worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of fire in our souls that can truly change our hearts. Ours is a great responsibility not to waste this Advent time." Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac

“The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before… .What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God's [back] fade in the distance. So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon.”
Jan L. Richardson, Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas

"You keep us waiting. You, the God of all time, Want us to wait. For the right time in which to discover Who we are, where we are to go, Who will be with us, and what we must do. So thank you … for the waiting time."
John Bell, quoted in The Westminster Collection of Christian Prayers, compiled by Dorothy M. Stewart

“Christmas is fast approaching. And now that Christ has aroused our seasonal expectations, he'll soon fulfill them all!” St. Augustine, Sermon 51

“God is coming! God is coming! All the element we swim in, this existence, Echoes ahead the advent. God is coming! Can't you feel it?”
Walter Wangerin, Jr., from "The Signs of the Times," in The Manger Is Empty

“How can God stoop lower than to come and dwell with a poor humble soul? Which is more than if he had said, such a one should dwell with him; for a beggar to live at court is not so much as the king to dwell with him in his cottage.”—William Gurnall

“Advent: the time to listen for footsteps - you can't hear footsteps when
you're running yourself.” Bill McKibben

“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes...and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1943

"Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.
"An old abbot was fond of saying, ‘The devil is always the most active on the highest feast days.’
"The supreme trick of Old Scratch is to have us so busy decorating, preparing food, practicing music and cleaning in preparation for the feast of Christmas that we actually miss the coming of Christ. Hurt feelings, anger, impatience, injured egos—the list of clouds that busyness creates to blind us to the birth can be long, but it is familiar to us all." Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac

“This Advent we look to the Wise Men to teach us where to focus our attention. We set our sights on things above, where God is. We draw closer to Jesus... When our Advent journey ends, and we reach the place where Jesus resides in Bethlehem, may we, like the Wise Men, fall on our knees and adore him as our true and only King.” Mark Zimmermann in Our Advent Journey

“Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; So that, at the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal.” The Book of Common Prayer, published in 1662

“One of the essential paradoxes of Advent: that while we wait for God, we are with God all along ,that while we need to be reassured of God's arrival, or the arrival of our homecoming, we are already at home. While we wait, we have to trust, to have faith, but it is God's grace that gives us that faith. As with all spiritual knowledge, two things are true, and equally true, at once. The mind can't grasp paradox; it is the knowledge of the soul.” Michelle Blake, The Tentmaker

“Christmas has lost its meaning for us because we have lost the spirit of expectancy. We cannot prepare for an observance. We must prepare for an experience.” Handel Brown

“Sometimes it seems as though we spend our lives waiting. Daydreaming about an upcoming vacation, worrying over a medical test, preparing for the birth of grandchild-our days are filled with anticipation and anxiety over what the future holds. As Christians, we too spend our lives waiting. But we are waiting for something much bigger than a trip, bigger even than retirement or a wedding: We are waiting for the return of Jesus in glory. Advent heightens this sense of waiting, because it marks not only our anticipation of Jesus' final coming, but also our remembrance of his arrival into our world more than 2,000 years ago.” Anonymous

“Let's approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush.” Anonymous

Advent Reflection

RIGHT NOW – the manger, composed of ordinary straw and hay,
waits,
empty and open,
for the gift of Life.

RIGHT NOW - bird nests lie high in barren trees, composed of ordinary twigs and mud,
wait,
empty and open,
for the gift of life.

RIGHT NOW – my heart, full of ordinary clutter, noise, to do lists, worries and pride,
like no room in Bethlehem,
my heart has no room for You.
So I slow down this Advent season and let go of what blocks me from You
And wait,
empty and open,
For the extraordinary and
astonishing gift of Life.

RIGHT NOW – I prepare my heart for You
Waiting
to be filled by You,
Waiting
to be filled with You.