• About The Sophia Center

The Sophia Center for Spirituality

~ Spanning the denominations in NY's Southern Tier

The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Tag Archives: reflective moment

On Alert!

01 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by thesophiacenterforspirituality in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Advent, Christmas, feasts, Jesus, new life, reflective moment, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, waiting

The waiting has begun. Today is the first (Sun)day of Advent and there is no doubt that we are in a new season, even as the calendar says we have yet to arrive at the first day of winter, still three weeks away. Christian tradition interestingly calls this day a new beginning even though it is the beginning only of preparation for the major feast of Christmas. The feeling this morning here in New York State is one of expectation – but not so happy. We’re expecting a strong storm, a significant dump of snow. It’s been happening all over the country, coming east and promising all kinds of havoc in travel and cancellations of all kinds of events.

People everywhere will be marking important feasts toward the end of December – some central to their religious practice and some cultural events. Whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, the Chinese New Year or the Winter Solstice, it’s a time for consideration of what we are about as we move into a new season of life. As I sit here this morning my brain and my body are alert for the first sign of snow and/or ice tapping on my window. It’s like a time of pregnancy when everything strains toward a new life and all that such an event will mean to change things. Yes, that’s exactly what it’s like…what it is actually for those of us who now begin the intense season of Advent – this “New Year’s Day” in the Christian Church.

How will this season of Advent – a brief 24 days this year – ready us for a deeper understanding of what the birth of Jesus into the world can mean? When all the festivities of the Christmas season are over, will we be different? Kinder, perhaps? More tolerant and even loving? Where will the emphasis of our “new beginning,” the recognition of our “New Year’s resolutions” be written in our hearts? Today is the day to begin this searching, the reflective moment for stopping to look deeply for possibilities. The snow will blanket us in silence and slow our active lives.

May you know the gifts of Advent that find their fulfillment at Christmas and beyond.

Donate to The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Donate

Our other websites

  • Main website
  • Facebook page

Visitors

  • 67,791 hits

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 826 other followers

Recent Posts

  • Strength for the Journey
  • Go Deep!
  • Late Word
  • Snippets
  • Just a Word

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy