New Thoughts

In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the human spirit.

-Albert Schweitzer

NEW YEAR Thoughts

Loving God, journey with me this year
so that I may feel your presence,
abide in your forgiveness, grow in your strength,
and dwell in your love.
Give me an open heart,
an open mind,
and open eyes
so that I may sing your praise
and follow your path always and everywhere. Amen.

- Larry James Peacock
Openings

HAPPY NEW YEAR

God, in this new year, may I no longer be my own but yours. Put me to what you will; rank me with whom you will. Put me to doing; put me to suffering. Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you. Let me be full; let me be empty. Let me have all things; let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God — Creator, Redeemer, and Inspirer — you are mine, and I am yours. May this promise that I hereby make on earth be ratified in heaven. Amen.
[An adaptation by W. Paul Jones of Wesley's Watchnight vows.]

- W. Paul Jones
An Eclectic Almanac for the Faithful

Christmas Greetings

Let Christ be born in you!
Let hope be born, Let love be born.
Let newness of heart be born in you!
Let gentleness be born, Let truth be born.
Let concern for the poor be born in you!
Let generosity be born, Let compassion be born.
Let close communion with God be born in you!
Let prayer be born, Let action be born.
Let the faith to take up your cross and follow be born in you!
And let it lead you in the ways of our Lord,
For the sake of our Lord.
Now and always. Amen.

- Alive Now, Nov.-Dec. 2003

Advent "waiting"

In many ways, Advent is a “not yet” season. Mary and Joseph have not yet traveled to Bethlehem, the infant Jesus has not yet been born, the angels have not yet appeared to the shepherds, and the star has not yet come to rest over the manger. Still, with all these “not yets” embedded in the Advent story, we spend these days and weeks living in faith that God will provide what has been promised—a long-awaited Messiah, a living hope. …

Consider this concept of “not yet” and carry it in imagination to the city, town, or village in which you live. Where is there “not yet” enough for some children to eat, a place for the homeless to live, some afternoon company for a lonely person to receive? Where is there “not yet” leeded leadership in your faith community or needed volunteers in your local community? How might your faith lead you to bring hope to one “not yet” circumstance so that you share in God’s restoring Advent love?

-Pamela C. Hawkins, Behold!

Winter Arrives

Blessing for the Longest Night

All throughout these months as the shadows have lengthened,
this blessing has been gathering itself, making ready, preparing for
this night.

It has practiced walking in the dark, traveling with its eyes closed, feeling its way
by memory by touch by the pull of the moon even as it wanes.

So believe me when I tell you this blessing will reach you even if you
have not light enough to read it; it will find you even though you cannotsee it coming.

You will know the moment of its arriving by your release of the breath you have held
so long; a loosening of the clenching in your hands, of the clutch around your heart;
a thinning of the darkness that had drawn itself around you.

This blessing does not mean to take the night away but it knows its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots along the path, knows what it means to travel
in the company of a friend.

So when this blessing comes, take its hand. Get up.
Set out on the road you cannot see.

This is the night when you can trust that any direction you go,
you will be walking toward the dawn.

-Jan Richardson, theadventdoo.com

Christmas Thoughts

This year needs Advent;

Needs a keeping space of silence

and of darkness nearing down,
Someplace where all that can be still is stilled
And everything but hope and fear are gone,
Where there is less of me and more of grace.
There in the waiting moments you have willed
Lies healing for an often-wounded soul,
The deep recovery of who I am
Where every whispered longing to be whole I ever breathed is finally fulfilled.

-Jennifer Woodruff

Alive Now, Nov./Dec. 2000