Advent has come…with a thud. We’ve had a hard time getting back into the swing of school since the Thanksgiving break. The kids are distracted, the baby’s into everything, I’m feeling out of sorts. How can this be? Advent didn’t sneak up on me; I’ve been preparing for weeks. I even wrote a book about it!
For the past few years, during Advent I’ve read A Child in Winter by Caryll Houselander. It’s a book of short, quiet reflections that work their way in. Just a single line can catch my attention and keep me reflecting for a few days.
Our own effort will consist in sifting and sorting out everything that is not essential and that fills up space and silence in us and in discovering what sort of shape this emptiness in us is. From this we shall learn what sort of purpose God has for us.
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There is great virtue in practicing patience in small things until the habit of Advent returns to us.
So, I’m simply doing what I can. Lighting the candles, singing the songs, reading the books. Waiting for the habit of Advent to return.
Janet says
3 December 2014 at 12:00 pmI have felt this way too and what i have found, is that when I try and do too much especially in my devotional life, nothing is absorbed or feels “right.” It is good to know someone else is out there like me!! Have a beautiful day, Kortney 🙂
Kortney Garrison says
3 December 2014 at 12:52 pmIt’s so hard when it doesn’t feel “right”!
Glad to have *you* for company, Janet ♥ ♥ ♥
Karen Edmisten says
4 December 2014 at 5:47 amI think it happens to all of us, Kortney. Dryness of one kind or another is part of the spiritual life. The answer is always in doing what you’re doing … just keep going. 🙂 The spark will always return, we just can’t control its timing. 🙂
Kortney Garrison says
4 December 2014 at 11:39 amYeah, I think it was a timing issue. I think I understand dryness in the abstract, but it’s arrival still came as a surprise. Isn’t this supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year? ; )
Thank you for your encouragement, Karen…and the Happy Catholic link earlier this week about lectio.
Karen Edmisten says
4 December 2014 at 11:41 amOooh, glad you liked that lectio link! Yes, dry times always surprise me, too. I want to be in control!! 🙂
Kortney Garrison says
4 December 2014 at 5:44 pmI might tend–ever so slightly–to control myself… : )
Joyce (Jones ) Brower says
4 December 2014 at 11:25 amYour writings are uplifting to me. Often I see a fresh new way of looking at something! I also like that your writings are short and to the point. Blessings on your day#
Kortney Garrison says
4 December 2014 at 11:39 amBlessings to you too, Joyce!
ladydusk says
10 December 2014 at 1:35 pmI have been feeling very small and closed in and disconnected. Replete with very me. I need some sifting and sorting. Thank you for sharing and reminding.