Pondering the Season of Advent

Vintage Deer, originally uploaded by ivoryblushroses.

Somehow, the first Sunday of Advent slipped past without much notice on my part. How grateful I am to have some time today on this second Sunday of Advent to focus on this season of anticipation. This evening, two candles are lit, one for Hope, one for Peace. I sit in the quiet, pondering the immensities of God and his ways.


I recently had the opportunity to view a DVD titled "The Star of Bethlehem". There is a companion website, which supplements the DVD: http://www.bethlehemstar.net/ It is a fascinating look at one of the mysteries of Christmas! It reminded me what a true wonder it is to anticipate the anniversary of the physical presence of God on earth. Advent is a season to remember that the maker and orchestrator of all things known and unknown came to us in a form we could relate to in order to help us to know him better ~ amazing! To know that God who set the stars in the sky and named them all, cared enough about this tiny planet of insignificant beings to send his son to us so that we could develop a personal relationship with him ~ it boggles the imagination.


In this context, the simple decorations of pine trees and woodland creatures on my Christmas shelf seems so small in the larger scheme of things. I find myself wondering how they relate at all to the true celebrations of the season.


This morning, when I walked outside after a difficult night at work, I realized that despite the unfathomable greatness of God, he relates to us on the smallest level. I had spent the night coping with extremes from the fullness of joy over a healthy new life to the grief and sadness over another little life that was far too short. Finding this small feather, a discard from one of the doves that lives in the trees outside my apartment, was a gift of God’s peace, which lifted my troubled heart and calmed my ruffled spirits.