The First Few Days of Christmas

My sister comes home!

My amazing family

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Vulnerable

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and
rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be
our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee,
to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou
art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Quiet Confidence, Book of Common Prayer

I say these words aloud, hoping the words of my mouth become the meditation of my heart. Because right now all I feel is weakness and frustration at my own weakness. I have quiet, but no confidence, only a small hope and trust that all will be well. And I know soon, maybe in a few minutes, maybe in a day or so, I'll be able to look back and laugh at my own seriousness. I'll remember my small place in His grand plan and move on with life. But right now, I just feel weak, vulnerable, open to the fears and doubts that crowd my mind.

And so I pray.

Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou
wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save
us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see
light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Third Sunday of Advent

"Possible things are easy to believe. The Glorious Impossibles are what bring joy to our hearts, hope to our lives, songs to our lips."

The Glorious Impossible, Madeleine L'Engle

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Second Sunday of Advent

"Consider how much the Advent season holds, how it it breaks into our lives with images of light and dark, first and last things, watchfulness and longing, origin and destiny."

Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk

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Filling Silence

It's one of those quiet days where I feel somewhat lonely. But in a happy, thankful-for-my-friends-in-the-far-corners-of-the-world way. I sit here and watch sunshine flood in while shadows settle comfortably in the corners. There's a stack of books here, and I read poetry aloud. Words drive the silence out. Beautiful, beautiful words. I love them.

Here are some of words that make that filled the silence of this December day.

I saw Eternity the other night

Like a great Ring of pure and endless light,

All calm as it was bright ;

And round beneath it, Time, in hours, days, years,

Driven by the spheres,

Like a vast shadow moved, in which the world

And all her train were hurled.

From The World, Henry Vaughn

Structured steps within a dance,
Things that could not be by chance;
Architecture of belief?
Arch of bole and veign of leaf.
Crystal's angles; raindrop's curves;
Bone and sinew knit with nerves.
Fleck of wrist, fly toss, and then
Break of bubble, flash of fin.
Beyond these sure and certain hints,
A clearer class of evidence:
Broken fever, opened eyes,
Dove descending from the skies.
Footstep firm on slope of wave;
Stone rolled back from Jesus' grave.
Glory growing out of grief?
Architecture of belief;
Things that could not be by chance:
Structured steps within the dance.

Apologia, Donald T Williams

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