A warm sun melting the thin ice on our pond makes me wonder what December looks like for you. Here we are warming and freezing alternately; one day is cold (14 degrees) yet today we step outside to a balmy 41 degrees. Our hearts might be the same; we engage with warmth, energy and openness or we find ourselves a wee bit frozen inside, unable to embrace the whole deal- life, loss, joy, sorrow.
Our community is grieving the loss of the beautiful teen I told you about on the first day of Advent; this family’s pain has become the underlying question for many here who knew and loved them, and even for those who didn’t, our hearts cry out, “How can they survive the loss of a child so young at this, the “most wonderful time of the year.”? As long as our hearts break with pain we know we are still alive, fully human, able to hurt and heal.
Our Christmas tree came waltzing into our house like a tall frozen pencil this past weekend. Hoping to trim it with one of the college boys, we were sadly disappointed as all we did was watch the ice melt. Finally her big bushy branches relaxed after the weight of the cold was lifted from her. (We even tried a hair dryer, but she was cold from the inside out; you cannot rush the warming process).
I wonder if our hearts need to be warmed by the Light of the World, the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace? Can we see how frozen places prevent us from living and loving as we could?
“Medicine from Sacred Scripture:
“I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners...Peace, peace to those far and near.says the Lord.” Isaiah 57:19, 20
December gifts:
1. my daughter’s comfort
2. muffins with lovely friends
3. lattes at Starbucks
~join me in jotting down all the ways you see a “wink from heaven” as you notice
Emmanuel, God with us~
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