RevGals Friday Five

Mother Laura asks, Can you believe that in two days we'll be halfway through Advent? Gaudete Sunday: pink candle on the advent wreath, rose vestments for those who have them, concerts and pageants in many congregations. Time to rejoice! Rejoice in the nearness of Christ's coming, yes, but also in the many gifts of the pregnant waiting time when the world (in the northern hemisphere, at least) spins ever deeper into sweet, fertile darkness. What makes you rejoice about:

1. Waiting?

At this point in my spiritual journey, waiting is such a gift. Slowing down is what I need right now~It's been 90-to-nothing for about a month now. Of course, spiritual waiting is not passive resting. It's an active listening for God, an active anticipating the birth of the Christ child in the world and in me. I haven't been doing much of that this week, although I did have the spiritual eyes to see the Spirit at work in my previous church a couple of weeks ago. What JOY that was to behold! Now, I wait for the Spirit to come alive in me in my work at this new church. How will the Christ be born in me anew among these people?

2. Darkness?
Have I ever rejoiced in the darkness? Hmmm....
Oh, yes, of course I have. In retrospect, the darkness of my growing up years has brought me the joy of adult compassion. The darkness of loneliness refined my movement into more authenticity. And it's in the darkness that I can see the stars. The last time D and I went to our favorite B&B we sat out in the lounge chairs on the balcony and watched the stars. Oh, what a sense of the Holy One's awesome grandeur came to me then. Thanks to the darkness.

3. Winter?
I've always lived in the south. When winter came my mother called it "sweater-weather," and we would rejoice in the much needed respite from the harrowing heat. And the problems of winter are never too bad around here in Texas...We'll have maybe two or three days of icy conditions, but then the ice melts and "sweater-weather" appears again--even in the depths of January. Spiritually, I rejoice in winter as a necessary part of the natural ebb and flow of the spiritual life. I've decided that those times in my life when God seems to hibernate are okay. I know She'll return in the spring...

4. Advent?
Purple comes to mind. ha! Yes, in Advent I rejoice that we wear purple stoles and change the paraments to the beautiful purple ones! After months and months of green, purple adds spice to our liturgical lives, doesn't it? :-)

5. Jesus' coming?
Ah, the birth of the Christ child. Yes. I rejoice that Jesus always comes, is always coming. I pray for the eyes to see the Christ everywhere I look.

Comments

Waiting can be an active process...so true.

And what is not to love about PURPLE!!!!!!
Katherine E. said…
I was thinking of you when I wrote that, Purple!
Sally said…
great play- as a Methodist I am just starting to appreciate liturgical colours, we need colour in our worship.
RevDrKate said…
A "hibernating" God...now that bears some thought Katherine!
Unknown said…
Really, purple? I didn't know. Nifty.
Mary Beth said…
Yes, sweater weather.

Which comes just after the few "open window days" here in Texas! :)
Rev SS said…
Beautiful play. I too, love the liturgical colors. We've gone to ecumenical blue for Advent this year, saving purple for Lent. Love both.
I love purple too, and would hate to be in a parish where it's gone completely from the liturgical year (I have visited a few Episcopal ones that have switched to blue for Advent and use Lenten array=sackcloth/burlap for Lent).

Lovely play today.
Unknown said…
I adore the purple! Happily, Congregational churches are too stubborn to change over to blue...

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