I so deeply appreciated this morning's advent devotional reading from Richard Rohr:
Our Christian wisdom is to name the darkness as darkness, and the Light as light, and to learn how to live and work in the Light so that the darkness does not overcome us.
If we have a pie-in-the-sky, everything-is-beautiful attitude, we are in fact going to be trapped by the darkness because we are not seeing clearly enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. Conversely, if we can only see the darkness and forget the more foundational Light, we will be destroyed by our own negativity and fanaticism, or we will naively think we are apart from the darkness.
Instead, we must wait and work with hope inside of the darkness—while never doubting the Light that God always is—and that we are too (Matthew 5:14). That is the narrow birth canal of God into the world—through the darkness and into an ever greater Light.
Adapted from Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr, pp. 23-24
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Opening Day
An hour and a half from now, our first client is scheduled to arrive to "shop" for Christmas gifts for their children.
A month of preparation, and it seems a bit crazy to recognize that this day is actually here.
I fully expect the day to be full of joyful chaos. And I'm planning to soak it in.
A month of preparation, and it seems a bit crazy to recognize that this day is actually here.
I fully expect the day to be full of joyful chaos. And I'm planning to soak it in.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 121
Today's Daily 5:
- Watching the season finale of The Amazing Race (and having my favorite team win!)
- That the word of God truly is living and active
- the security and rhythm of catching the bus at the same time each day
- anticipation of coming days and forthcoming plans
- learning how to make pretty snowflakes for the first time ever
- being ready to go for tomorrow's shop opening at work
- the Christmas lights on Stephen Avenue
- Subway for supper
- Zoolights with a friend
- Caramel apple spice from starbucks
- crawling into my pajamas early
Reverb 10: Day 14 - Appreciate
Today's Reverb 10 prompt:
December 14 – Appreciate
What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?
(Author: Victoria Klein)
Naming one thing I appreciate most is a challenging prospect for someone who makes a daily practice of listing the things from that day that caused gratitude within me.
But, if I'm choosing, I think I'd say that the one thing I appreciate most from this year is finding myself surrounded by supportive friends from a wide variety of places, and in some really unexpected arenas of my life.
In the last several months in particular, I've discovered the depth of supportive friendships that I have, and have been so grateful for the way my friends have come around me this year where my life has fallen apart. They've taught me and are teaching me that I am deeply loved, and that is no small feat for someone who considered herself essentially worthless in the eyes of the world.
To those friends, gratitude comes in emails and cards, in gifts of time and returning a listening ear. And in hugs. I pay much gratitude out in the form of hugs!
December 14 – Appreciate
What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?
(Author: Victoria Klein)
Naming one thing I appreciate most is a challenging prospect for someone who makes a daily practice of listing the things from that day that caused gratitude within me.
But, if I'm choosing, I think I'd say that the one thing I appreciate most from this year is finding myself surrounded by supportive friends from a wide variety of places, and in some really unexpected arenas of my life.
In the last several months in particular, I've discovered the depth of supportive friendships that I have, and have been so grateful for the way my friends have come around me this year where my life has fallen apart. They've taught me and are teaching me that I am deeply loved, and that is no small feat for someone who considered herself essentially worthless in the eyes of the world.
To those friends, gratitude comes in emails and cards, in gifts of time and returning a listening ear. And in hugs. I pay much gratitude out in the form of hugs!
Thinking About Friends
I'm thinking about friends this morning, some blogging buddies, and some "in real life" friends, and praying for them as I ride the bus.
About Ian, a blog acquaintance by chance, whose posts I always look forward to. He and his wife are walking some dark valleys in these days, and I find them often on my mind and in my prayers.
About Lois, who I still always want to refer to as Lovely, since that was the blog pseudonym she used when we first became online acquaintances. She is ending the year by counting joys and giving thanks, and I am loving her thanksgiving and joy lists.
About Jenny, a regular "anonymous" commenter here, who always signs her name. I was praying for her this morning, too, for an Advent that is full and rich, and a Christmas season that is joyful.
About Karla Adolphe, my real life friend. Karla and her husband Gary have been friends for a while, and I was delighted to get the news yesterday that Karla has teamed up with another musician (Aaron Strumpel) to record a new album. You can see some footage of the two of them performing together live here. And you can support and follow the progress of the new album here. Karla's music has often been uniquely used by God in my life, and I'm always excited when there is more music forthcoming!
There are so many others on my mind and heart too. And so I spent the bus trip this morning, with Karla's music playing quietly on my ipod, praying. May God be near each of you and supply you with immense hope and joy in this day and this season!
About Ian, a blog acquaintance by chance, whose posts I always look forward to. He and his wife are walking some dark valleys in these days, and I find them often on my mind and in my prayers.
About Lois, who I still always want to refer to as Lovely, since that was the blog pseudonym she used when we first became online acquaintances. She is ending the year by counting joys and giving thanks, and I am loving her thanksgiving and joy lists.
About Jenny, a regular "anonymous" commenter here, who always signs her name. I was praying for her this morning, too, for an Advent that is full and rich, and a Christmas season that is joyful.
About Karla Adolphe, my real life friend. Karla and her husband Gary have been friends for a while, and I was delighted to get the news yesterday that Karla has teamed up with another musician (Aaron Strumpel) to record a new album. You can see some footage of the two of them performing together live here. And you can support and follow the progress of the new album here. Karla's music has often been uniquely used by God in my life, and I'm always excited when there is more music forthcoming!
There are so many others on my mind and heart too. And so I spent the bus trip this morning, with Karla's music playing quietly on my ipod, praying. May God be near each of you and supply you with immense hope and joy in this day and this season!
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