I didn't give much thought to Mary when I was a child, for obvious reasons. Being the Savior of the world's mother gave her a place at the manger, but then she faded quickly into the background. All I knew was that an angel visited her - not that shocking to me since children expect… Continue reading The Radical Yes
We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God's coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God's coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect, that the… Continue reading Shaken
I learned about the power of darkness on a family trip to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky many years ago. After what seems a long descent into the earth's bowels, albeit hemmed in by guardrails and safely lit, we reach an enormous cavern. The air is cold; the view is stunning until the park… Continue reading Waiting in the Dark
I didn't grow up with Advent. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to a staunch Protestant family and raised in the Salvation Army, there were no nativity scenes in our Christmas decorations, no candles, and no daily readings. There was scant time for contemplation as our December days filled up with acts of service. As a… Continue reading Service
There is nothing special about my advent table. The table itself was a thrift store find some years back. It has hosted many grandkids' art projects, which is why I cover it with a $7 tablecloth from Big Lots. Our small washer/dryer combo lives next to the refrigerator, hidden behind an ingenious sliding pantry made… Continue reading Table for Two
For many people, waiting is an awful desert between where they are and where they want to go. And people do not like such a place. They want to get out of it by doing something. Henri NouwenWatch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas Waiting is not a popular pastime in our culture.… Continue reading Desert Discipline
Paper Thin Places 