Mail Archive of the old Santa Clara Valley Lutheran Parish

Subject: devotion for today

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:40:43 -0800 (PST)

From: LaVinnia <lavpier@aol.com>

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Subject: devotion for today
From: LaVinnia <lavpier@aol.com>
To: SCVLP <scvlp@googlegroups.com>
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One of my favorite books for Advent and Christmas is"Kneeling in
Bethlehem" by Ann Weems.
The following two poems are ones that I return to every advent.

Mary, Nazareth Girl

Mary, Nazareth Girl:
What did you know of ethereal beings with messages from God?
What did you know of men when you found yourself with child?
What did you know of babies, you, barely out of childhood yourself?

God-chosen girl:  What did you know of God that brought you to this
stable, blessed among women?

Could it be that you had been ready
     waiting, listening for the footsteps of an angel?
Could it be there are messages for us if we have the faith to
listen?


This year will be Different

Who among us does not have dreams that this year will be different?
Who among us does not intend to go peacefully, leaisurely, carefully
toward Bethehem, for who among us likes to cope with the commercialism
of Christmas, which lures us to tinsel not only the tree, but also our
hearsts?

Who among us intends to get caught up in tearing around and wearing
down?
Who among us does not long for:  gifts that give love, shopping in
serenity, cards and presents sent off yearly, long evenings by the
fireside with those we love?  (the trimming devoid of any arguing
about who's going to hang what where, The aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg
mingling with the pine scent of the tree, and carols gently playing
over our idyllic scene).
And the children! the children cheerfully talking about giving instead
of getting?

Who among us does not yearn for time for our hearts to ponder the word
of God?  For moments of kneeling bursts of song? for the peace of
quiet calm for our spirit's journey?

This year we intend to follow the star, instead of the crowd.  But of
course, we always do intend the best.  (And sometimes our intentions
get the best of us!)

This year, when we find ourselves off the path again, (and we
invariably will), lets not add yet another stress to our Advent days,
that of "trying to do Christmas correctly"!

Instead, lets approach the birth of our Lord with joyful abandon!

And this year
  lets do what Mary did and rejoice in God,
  lets do what Joseph did and listen to our dreams,
  lets do what the Wise Men did and go to worship,
  lets do what the shepherds did and praise and glorify God for all
we've seen and heard!
As for the advent frantic pace, we don't have time for that.  We'll be
too busy singing!
This year will be different!

May your advent journey be blessed.
LaVinnia Pierson