by David Anderson
I awoke today to 2.5 inches of snow. Just like they said. There is something deadening about foreknowledge. I can’t remember the last time I was surprised by a snowstorm. We are mostly surprised, I think, when the weather hypers get it wrong, when the ‘bomb cyclone’ or ‘polar vortex’ fizzles. But either way, we […]
by David Anderson 9 Comments Filed Under: Awareness, Awe, Choice, Daily Practice, Faith/Trust, Now/ the Present, Reality--trusting it, Seeing
John 1: 1-14 “In the beginning was the Word… And the Word became fleshand dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” We end Advent in the place we began. On day one we looked into an empty cradle and filled it with our hopes and prayers. Now Christ is born, but—at least for us […]
by David Anderson 27 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, creation, Incarnation, Mystery, Nature/Creation, Salvation
Matthew 2:1-12 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Stars are everywhere at Christmas—they top our trees and stud the skies of nearly every holiday card. It all began with the visit of the Magi, royal astrologers from Babylon, who showed up in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is he who has been […]
by David Anderson 2 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, Beauty, Daily Practice, Discernment, Epiphany, Faith in Action, Faith/Trust, Guidance, Joy, Mystery, Seeing, Surrender
Luke 2: 8-14 “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory ofthe Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.” In our unenchanted world, it can be hard to take angels seriously. But if we dismiss the angels, there is no way for God to reach us. The word […]
by David Anderson 5 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, Discernment, Epiphany, LIght, Mystery, Surrender, Transformation
Luke 2: 1-7 “And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.” It was December 22, 2000. I was sitting at my desk proofing a service bulletin when a call came in. The receptionist said someone wanted to talk to “the pastor.” That usually meant: someone wants money. This bulletin was past deadline, […]
by David Anderson 10 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, Discernment, Epiphany, Listening, Mystery, Seeing
Revelation 22:16 “I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star.” I’m an early riser, and in late fall that means I’m up just before the sun. Near September’s end I began to notice a star low on the eastern horizon. Or was it a star? Its light was lambent and clear, […]
by David Anderson 2 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, Guidance, LIght, Mystery, Nature/Creation
James 5:7 “Be patient, then, my friends, until the coming of the Lord.” Advent is not simply about the first coming, or even the second coming of Christ. There is a third advent. St. Bernard of Clairvaux called it the “Middle Coming,” the long, faithful road from Bethlehem to the end of time. Here is […]
by David Anderson 5 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awe, Seeing, Uncategorized
Exodus 3: 1-12 “And Moses said, ‘I will turn aside and seethis great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” The story of the Burning Bush begins with a murder. The only reason Moses is out here in the wilderness is because, in his zeal and anger, he killed an Egyptian slave master who was […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, Death/Dying, Discernment, Faith/Trust, Mystery, Now/ the Present, Salvation, Silence, Surrender, Transformation