John 12:20-36 -Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
Photo by Berlian Khatulistiwa on Unsplash
For though my faith is not yours and your faith is not mine, if we each are free to light our own flame, together we can banish some of the darkness of the world.
RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACK
from Gratefulness.org
And so a new year begins… in the Christian tradition, we mark another circle around the sun.
Today is the first Sunday of Advent – a time to begin anew. As the month of December begins energy pulls toward Christmas.
Every store we enter, every advertisement we see, many songs we hear — all focus on the importance of preparing for Christmas. This is often chaotic, stress-building preparation. Preparation far from the call to collect oneself and gather with others to intentionally listen for sounds of God’s arrival.
Advent is a time set apart to live with a sense of wonder and anticipation. It is a time to settle the noise around you, to wait for something to come- something exciting and new.
Does your heart race? Do you feel a bit unsettled?
Light a candle in the dark places and stay alert.
Thank you, Roger Hutchison, for this beautiful image of Advent1.
sometimes the path goes dark and silent.
do we turn and run… or push ahead seeking light on the other side?
Door of the day… (Pinterest)
Darkness deserves gratitude.
It is the alleluia point at which we learn to understand
that all growth does not take place in the sunlight.
JOAN CHITTISTER
And so… in the darkness seeds safely wait for their time. In the darkness nightmares are experienced and freedom can be gained.
Time may seem to slow where light is scarce but most new life requires the somber silence of deep night.
This passing night bears witness to the ultimate miracle as we witness the birth of new life. New life appearing from the hold of death’s darkness.
As dawn begins to raise her light on the distant horizon be prepared for life changing moments – where our greatest dream might swirl in the chaos of disbelief.
Already awake and prepared to face death’s horror, the women wait for the first sign of dawn. They will follow the path to the tomb that has quietly held the body of their beloved – of God’s beloved. If there was any hint of gratitude in their hearts it may have come as they watched the last moments of their Sabbath pass. Gratitude may have sparked as they heard the first note of the morning bird’s song.
How could they have been any more prepared? Arriving to offer their cleansing love, the darkest of night has rolled away leaving the soft light of morning to proclaim new life.
His is risen. The Alleluia moment has arrived. Darkness did not win. No- it only served as an incubator for within it life was being reclaimed.
The women’s duty had been redirected. They had witnessed an empty tomb and heard the Angels proclaim that He had risen. Life has overcome death and God’s good news would be spread throughout the world.
The moment has arrived! The first notes of the morning bird proclaims this news. Christ has risen. The news will spread quickly and soon all of creation will be filled with the song of Alleluia.
Welcome happy morning!!
(photo and quote from Network of Grateful Living)
Carrie's Bench 
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