Awakening to Advent

Gently, relentlessly as fine dew, the Divine soaks into a wanting humanity.


We work our way toward Christmas. With quiet excitement, we go about those simple gestures that ratify the mystery about to take place. We help ourselves to see again, in the outward sign, the inner truth. If we are awake and if we live the earthly process, we will feel what is inner and hidden. We make the wreath and light the candles, and we gain from them courage to stop the wheeling and dealing of our outer life: to sacrifice the wheels that grind away in our heads, the endless rationalizations…the wheels that grind away at outward "progress" at the cost of peace and justice in this world…the wheels that dial and roll and spin and whirl and drive us to distraction. The sacrificed wheel of the Advent wreath encourages us to stop and wait.

     Gertrud Mueller Nelson

Observe the wonders as they occur around you.
Don't claim them. Feel the artistry
Moving through, and be silent.

Silence is an ocean. Speech is a river

     Rumi

Everything in creation has been transformed by contact with his humanity. By his breathing, the atmosphere is sacred. By his eating, food is sacred. Now every sense experience conveys the mystery of Christ. "The Word was made flesh…." made a part of creation, made matter-"and dwells among us." Jesus gives himself to us in everything that happens.

     Thomas Keating

Love is the subtlest force in the world

     Mahatma Gandhi

By accident of fortune a person may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love they may rule the world forever.

     Lao Tzu