The 2nd

My daughter often tells me she hates silence. I love it. If I had a magic button that could do one thing (I was asked this question in a Facebook group this week) it would cause silence to fall instantly. We need to learn to find space for silence, to not find it scary but comforting; to know it's a place where we can uncover marvellous truths.

Today I found joy in sharing cappuccinos with my family, I was thankful for all four of us being together for the whole weekend and I felt helpless at knowing the busyness of life will return and be unrelenting when I return to work on Monday.

Today’s Meditation:

If I chose to hide you away, it is for a reason.
I have brought you to this place.
Drink in the silence. Seek solitude.

Listen to the silence.

It will teach you. It will build strength
Let others share it with you.
It is little to be found elsewhere.

Silence will speak more to you in a day than the world of voices can teach you in a lifetime.
Find silence. Find solitude – and having discovered her riches, bind her to your heart.

Frances J. Roberts

Scripture:

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
- James 1:17

Sacred Space

Today was a work day. A big change between now and when I blogged during Lent is that my work pattern has changed and now a work day means a 12 hour shift. Not much time to consider Advent.
The LLLA action for today is to make a space to think about Advent. This is really hard- there's no space in my house right now, my garden is usually my tranquil place but it's hard to hang out there when it's quite chilly! I use my dining room as office space and have candles and incense in there but it's a work space. Thinking about this today my car is my sacred space. It's about the only place I am every day where I'm alone, can find silence and find prayer easy. I find it easier to think in my car than anywhere else, so that's my special place. It may not be everyone's idea of a sacred space but it works for me.
Finding or making space during Advent, with all its busyness and the directions we're pulled in, is really hard but it's important for me to take time away from that and make space for God, who often gets pushed out.
Working a 12 hour day it can be hard to make space for God but today has been incredibly special. There's been time to stop, to talk and to connect. The day has been punctuated with small spaces.

Be still

I'm only just finding my moment of stillness, as I settle down to sleep. Life is so hectic and so full that stillness is hard to achieve, yet it's so much easier to perceive God's presence when you slow down, be still, just breathe and listen.