Remembering to live in the moment

I am amazed at how much time I spend worrying about what lies ahead.   Usually it is stuff that is beyond my control.  My realization of the week has been that there is one thing that I can control and that is my attitude.  Situations are what they are, but how I deal with them is my choice.  

This was brought on by a confrontation after feeling attacked.  I chose to let it dominate me instead of choosing my attitude toward it.  Fortunately, I got things in my head straightened out with the help of good friends.

searching

I have begun to ask myself what parts of my ministry excite me.  Unfortunately I am discovering that there are parts of my job that are outside of my passion areas.  There are areas that don't have energy within them and require more energy from me.   

That then begs the question what to do if there isn't energy for a program in a church, should it be allowed to die  People say it is important, but they don't really support it with their time.  

Advent Word

Expectation – anxious, collective and operative expectation of an end of the world, that is to say, of an issue for the world – that is perhaps the supreme Christian function and the most distinctive characteristic of our religion.

Historically speaking, that expectation has never ceased to guide the progress of our faith like a torch...We persist in saying that we keep vigil in expectation of the Master. But in reality we should have to admit, if we were sincere, that we no longer expect anything. The flame must be revived at all costs. At all costs we must renew in ourselves the desire and the hope for the great coming. But where are we to look for the source of this rejuvenation? From the perception of a more intimate connection between the victory of Christ and the outcome of the work which our human effort here below is seeking to construct.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (19th Century Jesuit Priest)

Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:

The journey to Bethlehem has begun; a season of expectation is upon us. The lectionary readings for the first Sunday of Advent remind us to keep watch and alert us to the coming of the Son of Man. We are given the example of the doorkeeper who keeps watch for the Master to return.

Unfortunately, the only doors we keep watch over it seems are the ones that lead to business establishments where we can buy more stuff. Our society has become so obsessed with the commercial side of Christmas that Black Friday, originally named by the Philadelphia Police in the 60’s because of all the traffic, has become truly black.   Last Friday, Jdimytai Damour, a temporary employee at the Valley Stream, NY Wal-Mart, was trampled to death by the crowd as they broke down the doors to get at the items on sale. Not only did the crowd kill Damour, but injured 4 others and news reports state that many consumers were angry about being asked to leave.

With this event Pierre Teihard de Chardin’s words struck me. “We persist in saying that we keep vigil in expectation of the Master. But in reality we should have to admit, if we were sincere, that we no longer expect anything.” The mad rushing crowd, the craze of bargain hunting, our expectations seem too often to be about finding deals and not about the return of the Master.

This week as we stand with John the Baptist in the lectionary text, let us hear the voice in the wilderness. A voice that cries out for repentance, that calls us to come to ourselves and to turn toward God. It is a voice that can perhaps help us revive the flame of our faith. A voice that perhaps can remind us to see and hear the Christmas story with new eyes and ears.

During Advent the church recounts a story known by the oldest and the youngest saints. The more often we hear it, the more immune to the story we become. The more immune to the story we become, the easier it is to become consumed by greed and materialism. This is a most amazing story. Through the weeks of Advent we are called to keep watch for the coming of the Master. John the Baptist calls us to turn toward God and then we read the stories that remind us of the incarnation, to celebrate the first coming of the Prince of Peace. As we wait in anticipation for the coming of the Christ child, let us remember to keep watch at the door of the Master’s house. Let us remember who we are and who we are called to be. May our hope be a light to the rest of the world so they too may stand watch with us.

With Advent anticipation, expectation, and hope,
Karen