Advent and Beyond...

Before I begin this, my first blogging experience, I must first give part of the credit for why I am even here in the first place to a very neat young lady. A young lady I am blessed to call student. Thanks to Kimberly Alfred (Pope John Paul II HS, Slidell LA Class of 2010) who asked me to check out her blog, http://www.kimkmbr.blogspot.com/, I have decided to give it a whirl and create a blog of my own. Since I love to write and part of my nature seems being very comfortable with saying what's on my mind (occassionally getting me into some real trouble; ask my wife if you think I am just kidding), this idea of writing a blog sounds a bit like that T-shirt that you just can't seem to part with, no matter how many holes are in it. So thanks Kim; I owe you one! So here we go; I guess I can now add blogger to that profile.



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"Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience. - CONNECTIONS 11/28/93



At the time of this writing it is not quite Christmas, yet! It is the season of Advent, a most amazing time of the year. As the seasons shift, it is a time that lingers somewhere between the deep oranges, browns and reds and the pure white. As our minds exist, for some it is all about the shopping; for others it's about making sure the house looks like something out of the December issue of Homes & Gardens. Then there it is for those of us who call ourselves "pilgrims," or "cosmic travelers." I give you Advent, Elly's (how I refer to God when truly conversing) gift to each and every one of us who call ourselves human, the time each and every year when we can look at the world as it should be and then as the moment fades, we can try to actually live that world. Success or failure is completely dependent on how deep you let Advent crawl under the sheets of your soul. So Advent, what do you have to offer us in 2009, the ending of the first decade of this new millenium?

I have this whisper from somewhere deep in my innards that always reminds me that God nudges us where God wants us when She wants us there. Believe it or not, as I am writing this I am listening to HBO's concert for the 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and U2 is up on the stage singing the classic I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. There truly are no coincidences, God sees to that. So I ask another question, related to the one above; what are you looking for; is it fame, fortune, riches, success, love, faith, hope or maybe just the next warm cup of coffee?

You might ask, how can we be hopeful when there are more people homeless than ever in the history of humankind? How can we be hopeful when war rages in the Mid-East, Africa, and in the constant violence found all over this amazing planet we call home? My answer is how can we NOT be hopeful? For crying out loud in my hometown of New Orleans there is a football team who has won 13 games (something that has never been accomplished in over forty years). There is always hope. It exists whether or not we take the time to pluck it from the tree, eat it, and allow it to nourish us so that we can continue to dream.

Advent is that moment in time - a finger tracing the circle; always returning to the point of beginning - when each of us can renew, refresh, reinvigorate and look at all that is beautiful and good in our world and like John F. Kennedy (whether it was him or someone else, like George bernard Shaw) proclaim "why not" rather than why. So when you pass that Salvation Army bell ringer, put a nickel, or a quarter, or even a dollar in the bucket. When you see someone walking, and you know they could use a ride; stop put down your window and say, "C'mon, hop in." Let's all make a concious effort to just smile as we pass in the mall, or sit on the bus. Smile when we are standing in the long checkout line; maybe even smile when we are piddling around in the house. I think if we start doing that the rest will take care of itself and we can make "Advent" a daily occurrence. We can, as I heard God say on a TV show, make every moment a new chance to do something good.

So, wherever you might be at, and whether or not you are actually reading this blog; I pray that you are having a truly blessed day.

NOTE: I think I am going to like this blogging thing.

My Father's Wisdom

This time of year always taps me on my shoulder with little reminders of my father, Carlin Joseph Gervais. It usually begins when I drag the tree down out of the attic. I think I don't believe in ghosts, (that usually congers up something evil) but spirits; there just might be something to that. As I zip open the the big bag that contains the reusable 8ft lighted tree, I am close to certain I hear him saying, "C'mon Earl let's go pick out this year's tree. Your momma wants a good Scottish Pine."

Then as I put the two sections together and begin to unfold all the man made branches, I swear I can see him start the engine, back out the driveway, and slip the car into drive. I hear myself asking, "Where are we going to get it this year?" Even though I know the answer because we are leaving early (we have to be heading to one of the tree farms in Mississippi) I want to hear him explain: "Thought we'd go to that spot on the way to Bay St. Louis that cuts 'em fresh for you. Ain't nothing like a fresh tree. Never could understand anyone who would put up a fake tree. It just isn't Christmas until you have a real tree up and decorated."

At this point I actually start talking out loud as I plug the lights in on the "unreal" tree, "Do you realize how many trees I have saved since I took my mother-in-law's tree off her hands." I'm talking to a plastic tree for crying out loud. Still I hear his answer; he was the most logical man I've ever known - held two degrees, one in Spanish and another in English. "Do you know why God put trees on the earth? When managed properly we will never run out no matter how many houses we build or Christmas trees we cut." He was always a big purveyor of moderation in everything (oh how many times I wished he would have followed his own advice when it came to his smoking and drinking, his grandchildren and maybe great grandchildren could have watched him trim a tree). What a sight that was.

Now, when it came to trimming the tree; I think he could have made a fortune if he would have started a tree trimming business - well maybe not. He would never let anyone else do it; well not without task master-like directions anyway. As I get the lights lit on my "sacrilege" I start to see him instructing each of us (all five siblings) on where to put this ornament, how to lay the garland, and what to put at the top (we are all arguing on whether to put a star or an angel; he usually decides on the angel) and then he tells one of his crazy Christmas stories. My favorite was always the Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus one. I wish he were telling one now. Rarely, if ever did he read a story; how can you remember all of them? The best is still yet to come.

I stand back and look at my tree. It really does look good. Artificial trees have really come a long way from the trees of my childhood. They are now built with material that unless you get really close and see the bolts holding the branches in place, you really can't tell the difference; some even have a pine smell. Now dad, how's that for technology? At this point I start to picture where I will put each ornament. Then I see him get out of his chair and go for the packs of tinsel. Will this be the year he lets us go for it (allow us to put on the tinsel)? Do they even make tinsel anymore? You know those very thin strips of foil that when placed properly make a tree look like it was reflecting some divine light. My brothers and sisters usually got distracted here but I lingered around hoping - maybe. He turns to me and hands me a pack, "Only if you place them one at a time; no throwing clumps." I agree to the terms and conditions.

Now the tree is complete. I look at my tree and I hear Cindy say from the other room, "No ornaments this year. Let's leave it just like that." I guess there are such things as spirits, because I start to hear something deep down inside. As I look at the tree, I think back to the days when Carly and Kira (my daughters all grown up with trees of their own to worry about) were standing next to me, eyes all wide, placing ornaments on - yes Carlin those were "real" trees - and I remember breaking out the tinsel, and I remember their eyes, one blue pair the other brown; and I remember my words, "Only if you place them one at a time; no throwing clumps." Oh how I wish he could have seen them; but then there it is again deep down inside, I know; he does see them. I sense his hand on my shoulder and I hear the whisper, we look at the tree, "Good job, well done."