Ending and Beginning Dances

Photo Credit: CJ Freeman

God you created endings and beginnings.
Times to say goodbye to what is
and
Times to say hello to new adventures.

It is a holy dance
this invitation to
ending and beginning.

Help me to pause the revelry
long enough to hear clearly
that which you are calling me
to let go of.

Help me to still the excited twirling
into the new
long enough to see clearly
the path ahead that you are
calling me to.

Help me to not tire of this dance
of ending and beginning.
For this dance is not one that happens
for a moment in time at the end of a year,
but instead is one life calls us to engage in
for our life time.

God, help me to embrace this dance of
ending and beginning.
Letting it whirl and twirl me into the
fullness of life that you have to offer me.

AMEN.

God's Broader View

God how arrogant have we been to believe that
You are only working in the world
through our narrow view of our
personal beliefs.

You are so much bigger than that.
Yes, your son Jesus is so very important.
As is the message of salvation that Jesus brings.

But we must remember
that Your view is so
much longer and broader
than ours.

You have been
working and weaving in the world
since it began.

Help me to remember how
You work in great
mysterious and connective ways.

AMEN

You Came as a Child

God, You came as a child.
Why a child?
Is it their innocence?
Their openness?
Is it because of how
we are more open to a baby,
more forgiving of a child.

Did you come as a child
because that was the only way
we would open ourselves
to the
awe, wonder and mystery
of You making Yourself
fully present on earth?

Did you come as a child
because that was the only way we,
with our
cynical, hardened hearts
would open to the fullness
of Your love for us,
your beloved children.

God You came as a child
and our hearts are more
whole because of
You come to earth.

Advent Mystery

God you are everywhere,
even when I may not see You
or understand how You are working.

In my humanness,
I seek to explain
or have an explanation
of everything.

But with You
not everything is
fathomable.

Help me lean into
Your mystery.
Into the mystery of this season.
Into the blessing of knowing.
Into the knowing You are here, working.

And let this all be enough.

AMEN

Proclaim

I invite you to pause for a moment and take some time for some contemplative play.

Start by letting this image fill your mind as you focus on your breath and letting yourself slow down into this time and this space.  Letting your breath and this picture be all that you attend to right now.

What message are you proclaiming this season?  How can your proclamations help others hear God’s message of belovedness?

Consider these questions also:

What do you see?
What colors stand out to you? Why?
What does your imagination do with this picture?
What words come to mind?
What favorite quotes from your favorite spiritual literature come to mind?


I invite you to join in conversation with me in the comments below what has come of your contemplative play time today.

Advent Light

God you are the Light of the World.
Your Son is the living light and word.

It seems so dark,
the world right now.

But it seems dark
because I lose my focus
looking only to the world.

Re-orient me God.
Change my focus
back to Your light.

Because in You
there is always light and hope.

Blankets of Slow

Blankets of white
covering the earth.

Still,
Peaceful,
Beautiful.

This is your gift of
Slow to the earth.

Reminding us it
does not always have
to be
go and do.

Blankets of white
covering the earth.

Your invitation to us
to

Be still and know
that You
Are God.

AMEN

Advent Love

God,

You came to earth so that
You and I might be one.

You came to earth so that
Your Kingdom would be
on earth as it is in heaven.

How patient You must be
to live here with us,
in the messes we have created.

O how much You must love us.

Thank you.

AMEN.

Stop, Wait, Watch, Breath

I invite you to pause for a moment and take some time for some contemplative play.

Start by letting this image fill your mind as you focus on your breath and letting yourself slow down into this time and this space.  Letting your breath and this picture be all that you attend to right now.

Stop, Wait, Watch, Breath.   How do you need to practice these things this season?  Where in your life to you need to be intentional about practicing these things this Advent/Christmas season?

Consider these questions also:

What do you see?
What colors stand out to you? Why?
What does your imagination do with this picture?
What words come to mind?
What favorite quotes from your favorite spiritual literature come to mind?


I invite you to join in conversation with me in the comments below what has come of your contemplative play time today.

Advent Welcome

Advent has come and with it an abundance of reflection on my part.  Join me this season as I share an extra post each Sunday of Advent.  It is my hope that these posts will help us all to slow down, refocus and re-member to the story of hope, peace, joy and love that comes in the story of Advent and Christmas.


It is so easy
in this season of busy,
to rush in
do this
plan that.

God help me to pause.
To start this season
slow,
silent,
listening.

Help me to remember to
invite you into my
doing,
planning,
being
of the season.

Help me to remember
to not only
prepare my plans,

But to first prepare
my heart.

Ready to focus on this
season of welcome,

Welcoming your Son
Christ Jesus
once again.

AMEN