Advent 2024: Waiting as One

December 1, 2024

Welcome, any and all, to this season of Advent, the four-week period of waiting for the Light to be born. Whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim, a believer of anything or of nothing, you are welcome here. We’re all alive, breathing as one, at this same moment, on this same planet, our common aches, pains, worries, griefs, fears, joys, loves, hopes and compassions uniting us. Unity is one of Christ’s greatest hopes; it is, I think, what bringing the kingdom of God/Love to earth is about.

If you’ve followed me before, you will notice several of the same themes explored again, particularly an emphasis on light, on being the light, seeking the light, and shining the light on/for others, whatever we each conceive the light to be. For me, the light is the Love of God. For others, it may be the Universe/Spirit/Higher Power/The Arts and Creativity, something else or all of these. The world certainly needs the light in these days of political division, sudden and drastic changes, increasing warfare, an abused and tired planet, human suffering and insatiable greed. Today’s world is, in fact, very similar to the imperial one that the Light was born into in a country under occupation, ruled by the threat of fear and oppression. And yet it shone.

In this Advent series, I’ll be turning to ancient and present guides and sharing poetry from time to time. Poetry is often a microcosm of much larger realities. Some of the poems will be mine, some written by others. I’d also like to extend an invitation to any poets out there to send your poems (about Advent, winter, waiting, uncertainty, hope, unity, light) for inclusion in these blogs at 20rosepoet20@gmail.com. 

I hope you will join me in coming together this Advent, reflecting on the importance of, prayer for, participation in, and hope of unity in our world.  As the priest and poet John Donne wrote, “No man (or woman) is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” We are in this together.

For your reflection, here is a poem by Jan Richardson.

How the Light Comes

I cannot tell you
how the light comes.
What I know
is that it is more ancient
than imagining.
That it travels
across an astounding expanse
to reach us.
That it loves
searching out
what is hidden
what is lost
what is forgotten
or in peril
or in pain.
That it has a fondness
for the body
for finding its way
toward flesh
for tracing the edges
of form
for shining forth
through the eye,
the hand,
the heart.
I cannot tell you
how the light comes,
but that it does.
That it will.
That it works its way
into the deepest dark
that enfolds you,
though it may seem
long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape
you did not foresee.
And so
may we this day
turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces
to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies
to follow the arc it makes.
May we open
and open more
and open still
to the blessed light
that comes.

(c) Jan Richardson

I wonder what opportunities each of us has for “turning ourselves towards” the light, for “lifting our faces to let it find us,” for sitting still long enough to search out “what is hidden/what is lost/what is forgotten/or in peril/or in pain” and allowing the light to sooth and heal us. As always, your comments and thoughts are appreciated.

Blessings ~ Rosemary

Photo by Rosemary McMahan