As we continue our Advent journey, the season of waiting and listening, the second Advent candle represents peace and preparation.
The two opening prayers from the old Sacramentary contain lines inviting us to prepare, “Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy,” and to experience peace, “the day draws near when the glory of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world.” As we await LOVE to enter the world, let us prepare and experience peace by being mindful in caring for Creation.
When was the last time you allowed Creation to center you in peace? Gaze at the brilliance of a full moon. Travel to the outskirts of the city lights to meditate on the radiant stars in the night sky. Hike in the woods and take in the beauty of the myriads of colors of the fall leaves, or the birth of spring and all the variations of green. Listen intently to the babbling brook. Allow your soul to reset to the rhythm of the ocean’s waves. Bundle up on a gently snowing morning and enter into the sacred hush on a walk. Splash in puddles during or after a refreshing rain with a child. Sit on your porch and listen to the various songs of the neighborhood birds. Watch the squirrels and rabbits frolic in the yard. Allow the gentle breeze to caress your face and cool you. Sit outside in the sun or nap in the warmth of its rays coming through the window. Lean up against your favorite tree and let it share its wisdom with you. And a myriad of other ways to receive the peace of Creation.
In Genesis, God settles the man/humanity in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it (Gn 2:15). We also hear that the man/humanity named each living creature (Gn 2:19b). In the Native American tradition, when you name something, you are responsible for it. Therefore, the truth, grounded in Scripture, is that God calls us to continue to cultivate and care for Creation because we are responsible for it. Let us do are part to ensure the experiences above continue to exist.
Tips for a mindful holiday season
So, this Advent season, let us dare to be prophetic as we prepare, so that we will always be able to enjoy the peace that Creation so generously provides.
Very nice