On the Way

by Kate Lasso Traditionally, the Advent season begins with a period of penitence and fasting. Liturgically the use of purple during the weeks leading up to Christmas creates a visual connection between Advent and Lent, the two periods of preparation for Jesus’ birth and death. For early Christians, these four weeks were inextricably linked to the knowledge that Christ came as the “Word made flesh” to live among us and reveal God’s truth to the … Read More

by Patty Wudel A friend has shared his awareness of the life transition toward dying and eventual death he finds himself in now. Big news for us all, and dare I say, “glorious” for the sense of awareness and wonder and something even deeper than acceptance—perhaps “welcome”—that I sense in him at a time when he is beginning to lose his life as he has always known it. What manner of loss is this? A … Read More

by Jim Knight This morning during my prayer time, I read these words of Henri Nouwen in his book Making All Things New: “Our first task is to dispel the vague, murky feelings of discontent and to look critically at how we are living our lives. This requires honesty, courage and trust. We must honestly unmask and courageously confront our many self-deceptive games. We must trust that our honesty and courage will lead us not to despair, … Read More

by Audrey Metz “Where are you in your journey of being with ‘the least of these’?” That is a question that makes me a bit uncomfortable because I haven’t gotten very far. I’m further along the road than I was a year ago, even six months ago, but any progress I’ve made has very little to do with any maps I drew up or any goal I set for myself. I believe that God got … Read More

by David Hilfiker Editor’s Note: David Hilfiker is giving a gift to the community by going public about his early stage Alzheimer’s. Here he reflects on a personal moment that speaks also to issues that can arise in community at large. ========== My wife Marja and I were at a silent retreat at Dayspring with others from our faith community this past weekend. We entered the Great Silence after Friday dinner and remained silent until after Sunday morning worship. We … Read More

by Susan Morley “There is an urge among us to birth a different world.” – Paul Hawken Birthing a baby is more than enough challenge, but a new world! Yikes! Advent is upon us and I am keenly aware of the craving for a different world. The Prayer Hut in Primavera Center is waiting for a symbol worthy of the inner work needed this season. Yet inner movements remain subtle. Clues often are all that … Read More

by Gayle Boss Advent 1 The day is bright and warm for December 1, but the logs in the marsh pond are bare. Spring to summer into early fall they served, on sunny days, as spa to a dozen or so painted turtles. Basking, splay-legged, they would stretch their leathery necks out full length, avid for every luscious atom of sun-light and sun-warmth. Out of sight now, they’ve not escaped the harsher cold that’s coming. The … Read More

by Kayla McClurg For each of us there comes a moment, or a slow series of moments, when we sense the Great Love of the Universe, the One Who Is Beyond–God–as a personally felt presence. Something cold in us warms, something stiff in us loosens, and we sense a turning, an allowing, a yes. “Yes, I am ready to hear you, God. I am ready to deepen my connection to you and to your family. I am ready to be completely … Read More