Today is the day after Christmas, or the "2nd Day of Christmas". The Advent season is gone, but the Christmas season remains until January 6, Epiphany.
I was able to walk and pray the labyrinth at Burks UMC on Christmas Eve day in the morning.
The Advent journey begins with hope and ends with love.
Burks UMC labyrinth
It was 59 degrees Fahrenheit when I walked and prayed the labyrinth on Wednesday morning. There was lots of birdsong-- chirping and singing. Unlike last week, there was no dog barking from the nearby houses. That was a reprieve.
As I walked to the center, various people and situations came to mind. I lifted them up in prayer. The statement from Sunday's sermon was part of my journey: "Where God guides, God provides." Though I don't know if that was generic or specific, it was something that came to mind as I wandered the labyrinth path.
As I walked and prayed, I reflected on the week's theme of love. What IS love? Love is many things, to many people, in many situations. What came to mind on Christmas Eve day is that love is "letting go". Letting go of what exactly? Maybe people, situations, circumstances, things, etc. Love is serving others, listening to others, caring for others, spending time with others, doing things for others.
Because the greatest commandment is 'love God and others as yourself', love is also doing those same things for God and self.
Only as I grow in loving myself can I adequately love God and others. It's a life-long learning process. It involves self care and soul care.
My Advent practice of walking and praying the labyrinth was one way for me to live into self care and soul care.
Hopefully the end of Advent won't end my labyrinth practice. Truthfully, it is sporadic. Unless I have a specific goal (like walking and praying for Advent or Lent), my labyrinth time tends to be random. It would be a great spiritual practice to include more often. We will see.
Whether you joined my Advent adventure for one week or more (or not at all), I hope your Advent season was full of hope, peace, joy, and love.
Rev. Deb
from the center looking toward the back
from a bench looking to the front of the labyrinth
The Advent season has continued to pass by more quickly than anticipated. But that's how it is every year. It seems to start off slowly and then it's almost over. That's why it's important to me to be intentional with my practices, to make the most of the season, to ensure that I slow down at least a little bit so I can reflect.
Here is the devotional material for week 4:
WEEK 4—Love
SCRIPTURE:
1 John 4:7-8 (CEB) “7Dear
friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who
loves is born from God and knows God. 8The
person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love.”
QUOTE:
“I want to be more loving in my heart! It is often easy to
see it with my mind, and give assent to the thought of being loving. But I want
to be more loving in my heart! So I must ease the tension in my heart that
ejects the sharp barb, the stinging word. I want to be more loving in my heart
so that, through both unconscious awareness and deliberate intent, I shall be a
kind, gracious human being. I want to be more loving in my heart.” ~Howard
Thurman
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Love is the theme for this week, the fourth and final week
in Advent. As you reflect on love, here are some questions for reflection:
What brings you love?
How do you share love with others?
What symbolizes love for you?
How does love shape your perspective on
life?
Love can mean different things at different times. It can
also depend on the situation and relationship. As we enter this fourth week of
Advent, the love we are referring to is the love God has shown us and the love
we are to show God, others, and ourselves. Mark 12:28-31 (CEB)—28One
of the legal experts heard their dispute and saw how well Jesus answered them. He
came over and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29Jesus
replied, “The most important one is Israel,
listen! Our God is the one Lord,30and
you must love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your being, with
all your mind, and with all your strength. 31The second is this,
You will love your neighbor as yourself.
No other commandment is greater than these.”
Walking/Praying the
labyrinth
During this fourth week of Advent, I invite you to walk and
pray the labyrinth with the theme of love. You might try the following
suggestions or you might create your own love journey. (If you need a refresher
on one way to walk/pray the labyrinth, you can go back to the explanation in
week 1 for “hope”.)
Take a copy of the Scripture verse and/or
quote and read them as you walk, reflecting on what comes to mind. Ask
yourself where you have love these days, where you see love. Reflect on
these things. Ask yourself what might show you love or how you might show
love to others. Reflect on these things.
Take the verse and/or the quote with you. Notice
where and how you sense love as you go to the center. Remain in the center
for a moment to reflect on love. As you head back out of the labyrinth,
what is your focus? What do you notice?
Additional practices:
Contemplative
Photography. Take a photo of something that signifies “love” to you.
Research.
What other Scripture verses or quotes can you find on “love”?
Write
a prayer on peace. What might a
prayer on love look like for you?
Journal.
Consider writing about your labyrinth experiences.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In my preparation of the material for week 4, I came across a "new-to-me" song entitled "Mercy in a Manger" by Evan Craft, 2022.
I invite you to listen to the song: (lyrics are included in the video)
Peace as you continue the Advent adventure! Here's a quote for reflection that brings together the entire Advent journey:
"The Advent journey: Hope becomes peace. Peace becomes joy. Joy becomes love. Love becomes Christ." ~Bobby Schuller
May Advent hope, peace, joy, and love be yours as you journey to the birth of the Christ child.
Week 3 of Advent has flown by for me. Has it for you? How is your Advent season going (besides it going by quickly)?How are you celebrating Advent? Are you able to make time to slow down, to focus on the waiting, the preparation, and the expectation that Advent offers us? If so, that's great. If not, then know that there is no condemnation. Truly there are no expectations for Advent other than the coming of the Christ child.
I was able to go walk and pray a labyrinth today. I went to the Burks UMC labyrinth this afternoon before the sun starting going down. It was turning a bit cooler again, but the sunshine and fresh air felt great.
I took this week's word into the labyrinth with me-- "joy". I also took a small bottle of bubbles. Bubbles give me joy. Yes, you read that correctly. It bears repeating. Bubbles give me joy. I blew some bubbles as I started the journey, but found that it was becoming colder by the minute. I was having difficulty blowing the bubbles.
I put the bubbles away and focused on the path.
As I rounded the turn on the outside portion of the labyrinth, I was very glad that my eyes were on the path and I was aware of my surroundings. Because of that, I was able to avoid a horrible misstep into a pile of poop. Yes, you read that correctly. There was a pile of poop on the path.
Oddly enough (or maybe not), that caused me to reflect on life's path and how there is poop along it. When we are aware of our surroundings and keep our eyes open, we are more likely to avoid the poop, whatever that might be.
When I arrived in the center, I spent some time blowing bubbles and found that I had to modify how I was getting air to the bubble wand. Who knew that cold lips could prevent good bubble blowing.
There were other things that came to mind that bring me joy: friends, family, community, serving others, the outdoors... it's interesting how reflecting on joy and the things that bring us joy can bring us joy in the moment. It's difficult to not have joy when our focus and perspective is on such things.
Choosing joy doesn't necessarily mean everything is going to be all "bubbly". However, it's a perspective that will guide us. Much like that deep peace that passes all understanding, joy can run deep. It has roots that spread out and can sustain us through much of life's situations.
Joy is a response. It's a way of being. It's a gift. Joy is something that we can offer others and receive from others.
May joy be a part of your daily journey, as well as your Advent adventure.
Advent is going by a bit faster than I expected or hoped for. The weeks seems to start slowly, yet somehow speed up. The third week of Advent is upon us, the week of joy.
Here is the devotional material for Week 3:
WEEK 3—Joy
SCRIPTURE:
Philippians 4:4 (NET-- New English Translation)--"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!"
QUOTES:
"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day." --Henri Nouwen
"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy." --Rumi
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Joy is the theme for this week, the third week in Advent. If
we were lighting an advent candle during our practice, it would be the pink
(rose) candle on the Advent wreath. The third Sunday in Advent is known as
Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin
term meaning “rejoice”.
As you reflect on joy, what brings you joy? How do you share
joy with others?
When I consider “joy”, there is a song that pops into my
memory. The first verse goes like this:
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart Where? Down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart! I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart Down in my heart to stay
Walking/Praying the
labyrinth
During this third week of Advent, I invite you to walk and
pray the labyrinth with the theme of joy. You might try the following
suggestions or you might create your own joy journey. (If you need a refresher
on one way to walk/pray the labyrinth, you can go back to the explanation in
week 1 for “hope”.
As you walk and pray the labyrinth, consider
doing something that brings you joy, such as singing a song that brings you joy
or blowing bubbles. Yes, you read that correctly. Bubbles bring joy. They do.
If you haven’t blown bubbles recently, I invite you to do so. Blowing bubbles
is a way to breathe in and out deeply, to allow your focus to be on the bubbles
floating away through the air.
Take a copy of the Scripture verse and/or
quote and read them as you walk, reflecting on what comes to mind. Ask
yourself where you have joy these days, where you see joy. Reflect on
these things. Ask yourself what might bring you joy. Reflect on these
things.
Take one or both of the verses with you,
the quotes, or the song into the labyrinth as part of your journey. Notice
where and how you sense joy as you go to the center. Remain in the center
for a moment to reflect on joy. As you head back out of the labyrinth,
what is your focus? What do you notice?
Additional practices:
Contemplative
Photography. Take a photo of something that signifies “joy” to you.
Research.
What other Scripture verses or quotes can you find on “joy”?
Write
a prayer on joy. What might a
prayer on joy look like for you?
Journal.
Consider writing about your labyrinth experiences.
I had hoped to get to the labyrinth sooner this week. It didn't happen.
I stopped by the Burks UMC labyrinth on my way to Dalton this morning.
It was 33 degrees Fahrenheit, but I had my coffee with me, so that kept me warm. 😀
I started my journey at the entrance with a few deep breaths.
I allowed myself to be open as I walked and prayed. So many thoughts covering a myriad of topics.
I came upon a leaf that caught my attention. I picked it up, noticed its frozen state, and put it back on the path.
I remembered my friend and colleague in the recent loss of her Mom. I took a moment to reach out.
I continued my journey and found myself on the last leg of the journey before the center. It had gone much more quickly than I thought.
I decided to sit a while. Those concrete benches are cold!
As I sat there reflecting on peace, this prayer bubbled up and out:
"Divine Mystery of deep abiding peace,
Are you so deep that I do not see or feel you? There is much turmoil, conflict, and simply bizarre happenings all around. There is death, pain, aging, loss. I question your presence, yet know you are as near as my breath that shows in the cold air. You are nearer than that. You are within me. You are my breath. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Even though the chaos swirls around me, may I know your shalom. DD 12/11/25"
I knew that peace was within me. I sensed it, even as I sensed chaos.
I was reminded of Jesus and the disciples in a boat. A strong wind tossed the boat around. The disciples were anxious. They woke Jesus up and told him their fears. His response to the turmoil: 'Peace, be still." The winds calmed. The disciples calmed.
It is good for me, for us to remember the deep, abiding presence of peace through the Holy Spirit.
As I headed back out of the labyrinth, I saw the leaf again from a different angle. The hole inside the leaf almost looked like a heart.
#SeeAHeartShareAHeart
Hmmm... interesting how things can look different from a different angle. That was a good reminder to look at things from different perspectives.
As I neared the beginning, I took some more deep breaths.
I exited the labyrinth and headed to the car.
Where or how have you felt peace this week?
Where do you need peace this week?
Remember that it is within you, and as near as your breath.
We were invited to a concert Saturday night. Our schedule was free, so we went. We didn't know anything about it, other than there would be music and some singers from Nashville.
Not knowing what to expect, we went with openness to the American Legion post in Red Bank.
It was an event connected with Freedom Sings, an organization that helps vets turn their stories into songs.
They had held a retreat Friday and Saturday at Cumberland Presbyterian in Red Bank. The concert was the songs that came out of that time.
The songs and stories were amazing. The stories came to life. Raw emotions came through, heart-felt experiences, laughter, tears, somber realizations of what the vets had lived through. There were celebrations of success, remembrance of sacrifices made.
This organization originated in Chattanooga. Here are a few words about them from their website page:
"Freedom Sings USA provides songwriting and music-arts therapy programs for Veterans and Military families. Based in Nashville and Chattanooga (TN), we are now providing weekly classes, monthly workshops and touring events nationwide (live and online). Whether you're a veteran searching for a place to connect with peers, a songwriter looking to share your talents, or an organization interested in supporting our Veteran-focused mission, we invite you to get involved today. Music is Good Medicine."
We heard local musicians (Josh Wheeler) and others from Nashville (Huntergirl, Steve Dean). The songs that the musicians put together with the veterans were amazing!
I didn't take pictures at the event, other than the signs above. Nor did I video any songs.
I invite you to learn about Freedom Sings USA from the links in this post and/or from your own research.
We got some coffee at the event from which proceeds go to help the Freedom Sings USA organization. The coffee was "Camo Cafe". There were some CDs at the event, but I didn't get one. I wish there was a recording of the songs played Saturday night. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking for songs.
Philippians 4:7 (KJ21—21st Century King James
Version)— “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:15 (NLT—New
Living Translation)—“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
For as members on one body you are called to live in peace. And always be
thankful.”
QUOTE:
“We are not at
peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at
peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.” ~Thomas Merton
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Peace is the theme for the second week of Advent. When you
think about peace, what comes to mind? What brings you peace? What causes the
absence of peace in your life?
There are two verses for this week’s reflection. I invite
you to read the verses again. What word(s) or phrases stand out to you?
The word used in both these verses for “peace” is equivalent
to the Hebrew term shalom. Looking at
the Blue Letter Bible (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7965/kjv/wlc/0-1/),
you can find the Hebrew term shalom in over 100 places, depending on which
version of the Bible you search. A word that is repeated throughout a document
is a word worthy of attention. It is found 118 times in the NLT (New Living
Translation), 167 times in the KJV (King James Version), and 119 times in the
NIV (New International Version).
According to various resources, shalom refers to “peace, completeness, welfare, well-being, safety,
prosperity”. It offers a deep and abiding presence to us, no matter our
situations or states of being. It is a gift for us to take in for ourselves and
for us to share with others.
During my 2 Year Academy experience with the Academy for Spiritual
Formation, I became familiar with the hymn “Shalom to you” by Elise Eslinger in
The Upper Room Worshipbook. It is also found in the United Methodist Hymnal,
the Chalice Hymnal, Songs for Life, and Together in Song. The lyrics are
simple, yet powerful:
“Shalom to you now, shalom, my
friends. May God's full mercies bless you, my friends. In all your living and through your loving, Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.”
You can listen to the song here:
Walking/Praying the
labyrinth
During this second week of Advent, I invite you to walk and
pray the labyrinth with the theme of peace. Invite the Holy Spirit to join you
on this peace journey. You might try the following suggestions or you might
create your own peace journey. (If you need a refresher on one way to walk/pray
the labyrinth, you can go back to the explanation in week 1 for “hope”.)
1.
Take a copy of the Scripture verse and/or
quote and read them as you walk, reflecting on what comes to mind.
Ask yourself where you have peace these
days, where you see peace. Reflect on these things.
Ask yourself where you need peace and how
you might attain it. Reflect on these things.
2.
Take one or both of the verses with you,
the quote, or the song into the labyrinth as part of your journey.
Notice where and how you sense peace as
you go to the center.
Remain in the center for a moment to
reflect on peace.
As you head back out of the labyrinth,
what is your focus? What do you notice?
Additional practices:
Contemplative
Photography. Take a photo of something that signifies “peace” to you.
Research.
What other Scripture verses or quotes can you find on “peace”?
Write
a prayer on peace.What might a
prayer on peace look like for you?
Journal.
Consider writing about your labyrinth experiences.
If you want to use a finger labyrinth, you can use the one I shared last week:
Or, if you want to use a different one, I invite you to check out this link from The Upper Room:
P.S. If you want to read more about labyrinths here in my blog, you can click on the word "labyrinth" in the word list. It has been mentioned 27 times on my blog.
