Meditation helps me practice watchful waiting or being “present to the present.” It’s not easy and doesn’t come naturally to me. I don’t think I’m alone in experiencing this challenge. A friend once described her experience of meditation as feeling as though she wanted to “jump out of her skin”
I find that when I surrender to the challenge of being quiet and attentive, I do witness God’s presence. Driving back from CSH yesterday morning, I decided to be quiet, not turn on the radio, and just be present. I knew I would have 1/2 hour to sit and be. Hmmm... Should I fill the time by going to get a 2nd cup of tea? As I came to a traffic light and pulled up behind a salesperson’s car, I saw a decal that said, “Discover what you love”. I knew I needed to sit still. I opted against the tea and was delighted to find my email Advent reflections. Inspired, I want to share my gratitude in knowing Who I love and Who loves me...
Suddenly, I don’t want an image of blue veils,
lowered eyes and folded hands anymore !
I want an image of Mary that is alive and dynamic…
I want an image of the woman going to the village well
with the other women, a water-jar on her head,
attentive to each one who needed someone to talk to.
If you are looking for a good Christmas movie, go to see “The Man Who Invented Christmas.” This is a new way of approaching that great Christmas classic “A Christmas Carol.” Dan Stevens (Matthew in “Downton Abbey) plays a Charles Dickens coping with writer's block, a growing family and mounting expenses. The film focuses on the working of the novelist's creative imagination as his characters come to life and move the story (and its author) toward kindness, forgiveness and reconciliation. Christopher Plummer is certainly the best Scrooge since the wonderful 1951 performance by Alistair Sim.