The Dealership We all know the shock of being rear ended by unexpected trials in life, but there is hope! On May 27, 2026, very recently, I was rear ended hard! All kinds of emotions surfaced. I was concerned about the pain I was experiencing, but the emergency room said I had no broken bones, just very sore muscles. Thank God! I had a 2015 vehicle with low mileage that ran great, so I wasn't motivated to seek out another car. Then my car was totaled, therefore I had to go find another one. I found one at the dealership with updated safety features and technology. This prompted me to think of God as the Dealership, as well as being the Creator and Owner. Here people depend on the salesperson and the mechanic to help move about in life. God contains all we need, that is, what people seek can be found in this "dealership". We all want to find something to take us from point A to point Z. From birth un...
Christmas time can be stressful with busyness and preparation. We busy ourselves with tasks such as shopping, decorating, and cooking but never seem able to find time for quiet and reflection.
Today is the first day of Advent, which asks us to slow down and awaken while waiting in expectation for the incarnation of God. On Christmas day, we celebrate the birth of the Son of God. During Advent, Christ is conceived into our hearts, growing each day as our souls nurture this seed within. This way we labor and give life to the light that is God. In the darkness of winter and in the stillness of our womb-like soul, Christ grows and flourishes. God's light shines from within during Advent, giving way to the brilliance of the Almighty.
The Spirit awakens in us the desire to welcome Jesus into the cocoon of our consciousness. During the Advent winter, we learned to die to self just like trees shed their leaves. It is a time to train our ego to hibernate, to sleep, to rest in the knowledge that life in Christ comes from this rest.
Advent is the time which prepares us for the arrival of Emmanuel (God with us) into our lives. When we prepare our souls and hearts for the coming of the Son, we are allowing God to awaken us to the fact that He lives deep within and all around us.
During Advent, we are pregnant with the Spirit, leading to the birth of love, light and joy. The goal of Advent is to transform us from within. We transform when we pray daily and reflect, when we sit in silence and ponder, shedding the leaves of indifference, self-absorption, and our attachment to things.
Now, the winter solstice also represents a time for finding light in darkness. It is a time to embrace the longest night, preparing for new beginnings and the rebirth of the sun (of days getting longer). Persians celebrate the solstice with a festival showcasing the victory of light over darkness. Hindus have a five-day festival where gifts are exchanged. Hanukkah happens around Christmas time, where a menorah is lit in the Festival of Lights. Soyal is the Native American celebration of the winter solstice. Yule is celebrated with rituals, including lighting candles, meditation, and being aware of the cycles of nature. Christmas traditions have origins in ancient winter solstice festivals that await the return of the sun.
May we all awaken this Advent. May we open our eyes to welcome the Son, the light of the world. And just like the sun, which brings light and life, the Son brings light to the world and life eternal.
Ah, I love this reflection. The way everything relates, the Son, shorter days, the winter solstice, etc. it all fits into our transformation during Advent. Thank you for this beautiful reminder. Your colorful drawing adds to the feeling.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback. May the Son and the sun brighten all your days! 💛🙏
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