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.



*****



"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.