Advent Week 1
brief thoughts on Hope
In the darkness, we are keenly aware of our need for hope.
But, unfortunately, this year, the darkness feels overwhelmingly black.
On both a personal and collective scale, I need hope.
Hope is what this week's advent candle offers. Hope for divine intervention and healing. Hope for Christ-consciousness to take root in our hearts. Hope for the higher self to shine more frequently and more brightly in our souls.
”Hope is the evidence of things not seen.”
The divine within each of us often goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, in our communities, the divine presence is obscured under chaos, violence, and fear. Yet, it is there.
𝘝𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵.
Bidden or not bidden, God Is present.
This is the answer the Delphic Oracle gave the Lacedemonians when they considered going to war against Athens.
Jung inscribed it over the entrance to his house in Kusnacht.
It is a reminder that in times of peace, war, love, and hatred, the divine presence is witnessing what we bring about. Hopefully this will give us reason to pause and consider what we are doing and saying in our private thoughts and public posts.
Our hope lies in seeing the unseen presence of the divine in ourselves and others, so that it might transform us.
So let us light a candle in the dark of our hearts and spark divine hope within. Then let us each light the candle in another's heart until the small corners of our neighborhoods, cities, and communities are ablaze with hope.
Each Sunday I’ll be posting a brief piece focusing on the theme of the Advent Candle for that week. In a season that is sometimes filled with “too much” may these small thoughts be a gift and not a burden.
A beautiful reflection, Jan. There is an urgent need to replace the hate, anger, despair in our own hearts with hope if we are ever able to bring about peace. Thank you for your wise words.