Right when many of us are gearing up big time for Christmas and Hanakkah by filling out our shopping lists, preparing for holiday parties, and beginning to work on cards our Church and Temple call us to pause and to reflect on the bigger questions of life about God and our place before our Creator. Say what?!!!
In the Christian Church, the season of Advent began last Sunday. One of my favorite authors, Jan Richardson (an ordained United Methodist minister), invites us to pause ~ wait ~ linger ~ behold.
"The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the
likes of which we have never seen before.. It is not possible to keep
it from coming, because it will. That's just how Advent works.
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 fade in the distance. So stay.
Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be
time enough for running. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay.
Wait. Something is on the horizon." ~ Jan Richardson
One way I am embracing the daily exercise of waiting is with a daily email that I signed up to receive from Loyola Press. SACRED ADVENT, presented by the Irish Jesuits, is a free Advent series. I have been receiving it each day since Nov 27and have not only enjoyed the prayers but also the Advent Action suggestions at the bottom of the devotion. Here is the link if you would like to sign up for the free series http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/advent/sacred-advent-retreat
If taking time every day to tarry, ponder, wonder and behold, feels unreachable, maybe this video might captured the essence of the season for you. It is called Gratitude.
English
Spanish
There isn't any magic formula required in order to arrive at Christmas and/or Hanukkah feeling as though you have entered into the Sacred. Simply open your heart and cultivate your response to the Holy.
Thanks for reading.
Lori
PS I invite my Jewish readers to email me with recommendations on books, websites, devotionals, authors, that are your go to's for Hanakkah(Chanukah) and other Jewish Holy Days. Thank you.
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