As I write this, Christmas is a week away and many are in the last days of preparation for this beautiful celebration. In the physical world, there is much to do in the approach of Christmas. Approach is another word for Advent that is supreme in divine meaning as we enter into the spiritual circle of the Alpha and Omega....
Advent Within The Alpha and Omega
Advent is here! Now what exactly does that mean?? The word itself speaks of 'coming' - to spiritually prepare before the celebration of Christmas. It is a season observed in many Christian churches four weeks before Christmas with the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love symbolically displayed in an Advent wreath. Many families create their own wreath in participation of Advent. Four candles are set on a circular wreath representing these individual themes, each one being lit on that particular Advent Sunday. Some churches include a fifth candle called the Christ Candle that is lit on Christmas Eve. The lit candles remind us of Jesus, the Light shining forth into a dark world.
We can be caught in the flurry of activity in preparation of what the Christmas season brings in our homes, community, school and church celebrations. Decisions of what gifts to buy, decorations to use, food to serve, cards to be sent - these are just a few of the considerations to be made for family, friends and beyond. Often, travel arrangements need to be made as well as juggling employment situations. It is a time to be a comfort for those in isolation, loneliness and in need, which amplifies during this time of year.
Mary (as in the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10) set herself before the Lord, taking time out to enjoy His presence and then dear Martha, whose time was consumed in physical demands. Advent can be a time to slow us down and turn our eyes away from the busyness of the season in all the 'doings' to the benefit of being still before God. Advent
is a season of spiritual preparation designed to bring our awareness
back to the simplicity of the cradled Christ to the complexity of the
Cross and to the completion in His return. It is in recognition of the
Christ, by His Spirit within us, expanding into the Alpha and the
Omega. One of the most fervent prayers of Jesus is in John 17:21..."I pray that they will all be one, just as you
and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may
they be in us so that the world will believe that you sent me."
The Alpha and Omega is complete - the Beginning and the End and holds within the dynamics of Advent....
- The Eternal in His Presence among us in the current moment of time through the Holy Spirit (who is).
- The Eternal before creation and manifested in the Christ of yesterday when first coming to earth as a baby (who was).
- The Eternal in the future to anticipate, prepare and expect the coming Messiah at the end of the age with everlasting life (who is to come).
It's good to separate into the stillness of God and then take that stillness back into our noisy world. Withdrawing into that silence of God that Advent can provide, brings a sensitivity and awareness of the Almighty. Rejuvenation of hope, peace, love and joy quickens and enriches the spirit and is a reminder of our destiny within the Alpha and Omega.
Join me at the Turn-Up Patch in two weeks - on Monday, January 1st in the new year of 2018. Have a blessed Christmas!
We had some unexpected visitors on Thanksgiving Day. A beautiful family of swans stopped by to rest in our field. I walked up to them as close as I could and was able to get a few shots using the zoom on my camera. Since I didn't want to scare them off, I quietly retreated once they became alert to my presence. I was hoping they would stay for several weeks as they did several years ago. However, frightened by the noise of shotguns by nearby duck hunters, they flew away. Needless to say, I was upset with the duck hunters!
I did write a message on the swan that will give you some background information on this beautiful bird. I encourage you to check it out for further knowledge on the swan. Your will find this particular post entitled "Of Swans and Sunsets"....http://turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2015/02/of-swans-and-sunsets.html
I wrote this in February 2015. The swans did return the following year in 2016 but it wasn't until Thanksgiving Day of this year that this little family showed up to grace our property for a brief time.
We still have resident geese that stay throughout the winter in our area and you see them frequently in the fields scavenging for food and shelter. They must like living in Grant County since they prefer being here than flying south for the winter. The swans in the past would be mingling with the geese and it was quite a sight to see. These birds made it a migratory stop before it was time to continue on with their journey. Thankfully, there were no duck hunters close by to disturb the geese and swans, so we were able to enjoy them all for a short period of time.
I discovered this beautiful poster with a wonderful message to it. It contains a quote worth reflecting on. See you at the Turn-Up Patch next time on Monday, December 18th... Until then, look for the unexpected blessings that our dear Lord sends your way to encourage and to say, "I AM here with you". It is up to us to perceive and see.
