Longest Night

Last night was the longest night of the year. This time of year is tough for a lot of us. We are reminded of those we've lost and for some of us the lack of daylight starts to take its toll. My husband remarked the other day that he is only outside when it is dark and he is going to and from work.

But know we get a few more seconds and then a few more minutes and then an extra hour or two of daylight every day.

Light

Lord, by your presence,
Light up the past
That we might learn from it with thankfulness.

Light up the present
That we might live in it with love.

Light up the future
That we might prepare for it in hope.

As we watch and wait and pray,
May we be always ready to encounter the Lord
Who is already and always with us.

Amen.

Candles and Conifers

I just joined this group on Facebook

"Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by worshipping Jesus through compassion, not consumption."

[AC] Advent Conspiracy from Jon Collins on Vimeo.

Nice.

I came across this article about rediscovering Advent the other day

And it really spoke to why I like seemingly boring church traditions.

"It wasn't a deep commitment to an Advent tradition so much as it was an expression of hunger;"

Advent, for me, is definitely an expression of hunger for tradition and being a part of something and doing something because it is important and there is a reason for it.

I may not be highly disciplined, but that would take the good parts out of the Advent devotions. If it's a 'have-to' rather than a 'want-to'.

Read the full article here.

Lectio Divina, Holy Reading

It was an amazing bible study last night. We did Lectio Divina. I was inspired by Postmodern Youth Ministry and I tried to make my youth group kids do this once, but it kinda fell flat with them. I've always wanted to do this myself, but had never taken the time.

Lectio Divina is a way of praying and meditating on a passage of scripture. A way of getting out of your head and listening with your whole body.

We began by being aware of our limbs. Just noticing them and letting them rest. And breathing. Breathing through our feet, breathing into our heart, breathing into our stomach. Aware.

Peter read a few verses from Isaiah. Something about seeing God in all of his glory. He was on a lofty throne and his hem filled the room. He was surrounded by serephs with six wings. Two covering their faces, two covering their feet and two keeping them airborne. Finally, the passage ended with the question "How long, oh Lord?" At that moment my heart burst open and my head was filled with the song that uses that as it's chorus.

It was read again and we moved in to Meditatio/Ruminatio, where we meditate on a word or image that is meaningful to us. All I could think of was that song.

From there we had an active dialog with God during Oratio. And then everything was clear. How long would I have to wait to find someone to love? God was telling me, "No longer. He's here." Thank you God, thank you. I had asked this question of my friend Liana in June. "Where is he?" Liana told me, "In God's time." She was right. Tears.

Then, complete rest and silence. Centering prayer. Just being. Contemplatio.

I wanted to say "Namaste" or the "Light/Divine/Holy in me honors the Light/Divine/Holy in you" like in yoga at the end.

I realized this was my Advent this year. He is the gift that arrived in my life that I needed to be open to receiving. Eyes open, mind open, arms open, heart open.

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He lifted me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?

He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see and fear

I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?

I had a good run. I had a good cry. It was a good Advent Day.

Mary

Our Advent Candle prayer in worship on Sunday:

"Today we give thanks for the Marys among us, who step out of the roles society has planned; unintended pioneers determined to do as God asks; fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith, and beckoning us to do the same."

Photo from Ben Bell via Jonny Baker (of course)

Little Red Light

We're on this Advent journey. This seemingly out of control journey that is careening ever faster into December 25th. I need to step back and focus my energies on living honorably, as we were so challenged on the first Sunday in Advent.

I keep seeing bicyclists at night. Riding in the bitter cold with their blinking red light. One little red light to keep them from the speeding cars that threaten to run them over. One little red light into the dark. I never seemed to notice them before, but Peter used them as an analogy in a sermon this month and now there they are, all over the city. Their little red light is hope in the dark. Like little reminders for me of the coming gift, they help me focus.

Reprieve

Surprisingly, I've been a little busy lately. It surprises me because I haven't been busy since the end of the legislative session. I've had oodles of free time partly because I was new to town and I didn't have any obligations. And I don't have kids, so it was just me to worry about.

Well, that just felt weird so I started going to things and doing little classes and joining some groups. Oh, and I got a boyfriend, who is just as smitten with me as I am with him which equals we never tire of spending time with each other.

All of a sudden it's the middle of December, I don't have nearly enough Christmas presents ready, I haven't baked anything and I have only posted once on the Advent blog.

Well, Tuesday night was a nice reprieve. That's the night every week when I sit down with a few other spiritual journeyers to enter the magical God world that the bible tries to explain.

We are deep into the Old Testament. The hard part. The part where God is wrathful and there are lots of wars and killing and yuck. I have a hard time sorting through it to find the nuggets of truth. But the people I study with are amazingly good and finding God moments and sharing them with us all.

Our leader really likes silence, which I am working on enjoying. So, it was a nice contrast from the hub-bub of the day to sit in the church basement and be silent and quiet and talk about God-stuff.

Nativity Scenes

We have two Nativity scenes in our home. One is the porcelain kind that is placed up high so that Baby Jesus will stay in one piece. The other is from Playschool. The Playschool Baby Jesus just like the real Jesus is often fought over and the battle usual ends with someone crying. Visitors to the Playschool Baby Jesus include the usual shepherds, Wiseman, and angels but also the Playschool Pirates and Polly Pocket and her friends.

The other day, Annika was playing with the set and I was eavesdropping as she said “Oh Joseph, the baby said his first word!” She didn’t say what the word was but the thought surprised me. We often forget in the midst of all the pretty Christmas cards and what not, that Jesus was a real baby and his parents were real people. I think about Mary at this time and how scared she must have been along with: just having a baby, being away from her family and especially her mother, and the added responsibility of raising the savior of the world (and to think I’m afraid of what I’m doing to screw up my kids).

So today, as the snow falls, think about Jesus as a child – what were his first words, did he make his mother cry with frustration and happiness, and how you can make his love REAL in this world.

Advent Begins

I lit the first candle in my wreath yesterday. I said a little prayer and asked God to bless this time of waiting. It was the consummation of a day of cleaning and laundry and decorating.

Once everything was tidy, I sat down to make some construction paper ornaments to hang from the chandelier. I still need to get some fishing line to hang them with, but that can wait until tonight.

I feel ready now to start the season. My house is set, now I can focus too.

Waiting…

Finally. We’ve been waiting for a storm like yesterday's. 10 inches of beautiful, fluffy, white snow to protect our gardens and septic systems.

What yesterday gave me most of all was a Snow Day. The two most precious and exciting words for any kid who grew up in Minnesota. A day to stop, relax, watch Christmas specials, start my Christmas baking (Peanut Butter Blossoms – yum!), and hang out with my family. I don’t know about you but my fall was busy – school and activities began, a conference or two to attend, families to visit and to visit us, meetings, meetings, meetings. Fall wakes everyone up from the laziness of summer and a Snow Day brought me back down to earth. I am now ready to wait - for the days to get the longer; for the snow to fall; and the coming Christ Child.



God of all life,
Wake us up!
Re-create us,
Surprise us,
Challenge us,
That we may be ready to greet your light
And walk with joy through the day.

Jan Berry.

- Kari