Tag Archives: Christianity

Lent 2021: From Ashes to Hope

Honesty alert! It would be a challenge for me to try to write a Lenten blog from anything other than a Christian perspective, since I have been a Christian my entire life.  Yet my hope is that this blog will resonate with anyone who has felt like it is time to rise from the ashesContinueContinue reading “Lent 2021: From Ashes to Hope”

Communal Light

An old, old story goes like this:  Once upon a time, a young king desired to build the biggest, most magnificent, cathedral in all of Europe.  He spared no cost in workmanship and in construction, and people came from far and near to watch the progress.  Gold, marble, frescoes, mosaics, silver, the finest woods—all ofContinueContinue reading “Communal Light”

The Vespers and a Poem for Advent

Many of us are familiar with the Advent hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, composed as we know it in 1861 but with roots sunk as far back as the Roman Catholic monastic life of the 8th century.  Not as many of us are familiar with the ancient O Antiphons, on which the hymn isContinueContinue reading “The Vespers and a Poem for Advent”

Star Gazing during the Winter Solstice

Today is December 21, the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year with the longest night.  It is also the occasion of a much-anticipated planetary event, the conjunction of two of the largest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, so low in the sky that they will look like one huge star, an event that hasn’tContinueContinue reading “Star Gazing during the Winter Solstice”

Winter Lament

Faith traditions across the United States, perhaps across the world, are offering a special service this time of year as the longest night, December 21, approaches.  These services are often called “The Longest Night” or “Blue Christmas,” and their intention is to recognize, not shy away from or deny, the pain, grief, and loneliness thatContinueContinue reading “Winter Lament”

The Power of Stillness

In this sometimes bittersweet season, where joy can be so elusive because of all the activity, anxiety, and noise which surround us, I turn in this journey to the Light to the wisdom of a current guide, Brother David Steindl-Rast, an American monk born in 1926 who still is leading us forward.  What draws meContinueContinue reading “The Power of Stillness”

Whatever is Lovely

As we seek the Light through the experience of joy this week, the ancient guide Paul of the Bible’s New Testament arrives with a message:  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.ContinueContinue reading “Whatever is Lovely”

The Meaning of Joy in Advent

In the Christian tradition, the focus or theme of the third week of the four-week season of Advent is joy.  In this dark time of year, in a “holiday” season that for many of us will be different from what it has ever been before, where do we find joy?  If this is our firstContinueContinue reading “The Meaning of Joy in Advent”