Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Advent A

I decided to start Advent today.

I am really grateful for Advent this year. I need a long period of introspection and time to pull myself inward and together. I need to find a way to be quiet and at peace during this season when the malls jump up and down and beckon, when I am surrounded at work by Chanukah, and when my dining room wall lies bare to the studs. You would think that I would be well practiced in those activities, after a year's Ignatian Retreat and months of writing my way toward seminary. But for the past four months I have had to share so much of whom I am in ways that have pulled me in so many directions, always knowing that the resolution still lies months in the future, that I feel quite at odds with myself.

So I decided that I could not wait until Sunday for Advent to start.

One of today's lectionary readings is
Ephesians 1:3-14. The mysticism of Paul has somewhat recently been brought to my attention, and here it is. To us through Christ, outside space and time. A good place to start Advent, even though it isn't Advent yet. A place for internalizing Presence and coming to terms with fragments of plaster. A place from which to look out and beyond as a way of moving inward.

A place from which to launch preparations.

8 comments:

Lisa :-] said...

What translation (version, whatever) of the Bible are these from? The language is not familiar (I was big into the RSV back in the day...)

Gannet Girl said...

NRSV.

Anonymous said...

"give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you"

-- from the Ephesians link.

I'm holding on to this for the next few days. Actually, it might be my prayer for all of Advent and perhaps beyond.

Cynthia said...

Advent is always a special time, and I love that you're getting a jumpstart on it. You very well may have inspired me to do the same.

Kathleen said...

For sure, this time of year pulls us in so many directions we look for some solid ground and peace. You always seem to look in the right direction for strength and comfort... enjoy the peace and spirituality that Advent brings..

Jody Harrington said...

Thanks for the picture and the scripture. Just what I needed this morning...

Anonymous said...

Hi~I'm so curious about how you got this kaleidescope-like image? Stunning...Blessings, Sassy ;-)

http://journals.aol.com/sassydee50/SassysEYE

Gannet Girl said...

Playing around on Photowhatever. It's a couple of years old but the function is probably called...Ta Da...kaleidoscope.