The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 3: Joy. The “comfort and joy” song (as I call it in my mind, rather than the awkward title “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”) is one of my favorites this time of year. For some reason, the juxtaposition of those two words is compelling. Each word… Continue reading Advent Week 3 – December 15, 2022
Month: December 2022
Advent Week 3 – December 14, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 3: Joy. Joy and gratitude are inherently linked. Karl Barth (a Swiss theologian) once said, “Joy is really the simplest form of gratitude.” When we recognize our blessings and feel grateful, it inevitably leads to a feeling of joy. And when we feel joy, we can’t… Continue reading Advent Week 3 – December 14, 2022
Advent Week 3 – December 13, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 3: Joy. It can be hard to find joy when we’re in a long season of waiting. Bonhoeffer offers a shift in perspective and characterizes this difficulty as an “austere blessedness,” reminding us that waiting is inevitable for the greatest, most profound things in the world.… Continue reading Advent Week 3 – December 13, 2022
Advent Week 3 – December 12, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 3: Joy. The concept of God’s kingdom being simultaneously here in time but not yet here is an idea that both confuses and inspires me. It feels like a Zen koan, designed to jolt the mind out of our usual method of linear thinking and inspire… Continue reading Advent Week 3 – December 12, 2022
Advent Week 3 – December 11, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 3: Joy. We’re entering the third week of Advent, lighting the rose-colored candle (the liturgical color for joy) in our Advent Wreath. This week, I’ll explore what Advent can teach us about finding joy as we wait. During a season of waiting, it can feel like… Continue reading Advent Week 3 – December 11, 2022
Advent Week 2 – December 10, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 2: Love. A Prayer for Waiting in Love Often I try to be self-sufficient, to rely only on myself to meet my needs. But sometimes, this isn’t enough. When I’m frustrated and worn down from waiting, hearing my thoughts over and over makes everything more obscure.… Continue reading Advent Week 2 – December 10, 2022
Advent Week 2 – December 9, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 2: Love. At some point in our waiting process, it may help to let go of our need for answers. Perhaps now is a time to sit with the questions rather than demanding answers. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, the author of Kitchen Table Wisdom, said, “Perhaps… Continue reading Advent Week 2 – December 9, 2022
Advent Week 2 – December 8, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 2: Love. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned by the Nazis for two years and executed just weeks before the regime collapsed. He wrote these words in a letter to his finance while in prison in 1943, “I think we’re going to have an exceptionally good Christmas. The… Continue reading Advent Week 2 – December 8, 2022
Advent Week 2 – December 7, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 2: Love. God may also be waiting for us. Waiting for us to accept His love. Or waiting for us to take the next step toward what we want so that we give him something he can work with. There is a story recounted in all… Continue reading Advent Week 2 – December 7, 2022
Advent Week 2 – December 6, 2022
The Wisdom of Advent – Learning to Wait Week 2: Love. Nouwen describes the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth as a model for the Christian community. This community provides support, celebration, and affirmation that help us continue the process of waiting for whatever God has started. Advent invites us to seek out others, on their… Continue reading Advent Week 2 – December 6, 2022
Falling Up After 50 