Almost There

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 at 7:52 am by Elizabeth Nordquist

Almost There 2011-12-19T07:52:57-08:00 Elizabeth Nordquist

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The last Sunday before Advent gives us all the Light we will get before the Coming of the Light on Christmas. It is so much brighter than it was when we began four weeks ago, but we still are in semi-darkness. I can’t quite see everything that is there for me in the light. So I wait, and it feels like I am on tiptoe in anticipation for gifts of the Spirit.

What I am in Hoping to see this Christmas?

I hope to understand Peace more deeply, Peace that passes understanding, deep Peace of Christ, the light of the world, a Peace that makes me still and know when and where God is. And I hope for that Peace to keep my heart and mind so that I can be Peace for others in my life.

I hope to know how to Love more deeply and more broadly. I can recall all too painfully the times and place that Love has been beyond my ability to act this year, things done and undone. I hope to learn to Love the intransigent heart, the wounded ego, the pesky chatterer, the smug one-up-demander-of-attention. And I hope that the Love from which I can never be separated will allow me to Love the unrefined and unhealed parts of my self, allowing change to continue to happen all the rest of the days I have allotted to me.

I hope to learn to take Joy, not just in the Littles, although there are plenty of them: sunrises and sunset on the ocean, roses in winter times, leading the people of God in worship, the aroma of glogg, a perfect Christmas tree flanked with wild poinsettias. However, I hope for Joy in the basic rhythm of my days, Joy in the awakening to the new day in the world as it comes to me, Joy in believing that Christ has come and incoming to the world, deep in the marrow of my bones.

As I sprint toward Christmas, maybe Mary of Nazareth is my model here–a little scared, a little bemused, a little befuddled–but open to being filled with Grace, knowing that God is with me, I want to fling my arms open wide to say “yes,” to the gifts of the Spirit that will come with Hope. Let it be to me according to your word. What to my wondering eyes will appear? I can hardly wait!

Advent

Previous Post

December 13, 2011

With Two or Three

Next Post

December 26, 2011 Light Appears!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category action Advent animals attentiveness Beauty blessing body Book Review Brigid Bruce Reyes-Chow celebration change Christmas church clergy misconduct community compassion creation David Hockney discernment Easter Eastertide election Epiphany faith faithfulness feminism forgiveness friendship God of all seasons Gods world Grace gratitude Healing hesychia Hildegard of Bingen Holy Spirit Holy Week hope hospitality humility inclusiveness invitation Jesus Christ journey joy justice kindness labyrinth Lent letting go Light listening Love Love & Salt making space marriage Mary Mechtild of Magdeburg memory Mothering mourning music ordination patience paying attention peacemaking Pentecost perseverance pilgrimage praising Prayer preaching presence reconciliation remembering repentance restoration sacred conversation sainthood Scripture reflection Seasons seeing clearly serving silence soul friend spiritual direction spiritual practice St. Francis storytelling suffering time Transfiguration Sunday transformation traveling trust truth-telling Uncategorized wisdom witness women Word work worship

Select a Month January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What famous garden did God place Adam and Eve in?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Bethel Eden Gethsemane Sinai