Blessed Advent, everyone! These weeks before Christmas are - in my humble opinion - the very best days of the year. They are so rich and full of feeling. The music, the scripture, the liturgy - it all gives voice to what is nearly impossible to capture in words: our awareness of suffering, and our deep longing for wholeness and joy. In Advent we feel the gap between reality and our hopes, and we strengthen our resolve to keep faith in God's promises. And we do all this while resisting the cultural demands to shop, be busy and be cheerful. It's quite a season!
I invite us all to embrace the resistance and longings of Advent. Here are two suggestions:
Pray nightly with our "theme poem" by Howard Thurman, I will light candles. You might light your Advent Wreath, or light a single candle, as you say or read the poem. You might meditate on a different line each night. You might write about where you see joy or hope or courage. You might reflect on which line resonates with you, or seems the most challenging.
Use the Pray as You Go app or website to engage in their daily meditative prayer with music and scripture, or use their Advent 2024 retreat series. Make Advent your excuse to build a devotional time into your day!
May this Advent bring you restoration, reflection and hope! I will light candles this Christmas.a
Candles of joy, despite all the sadness.
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
Candles of courage where fear is ever present.
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days.
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens.
Candles of love to inspire all of my living.
Candles that will burn all the year long.
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