Advent is my Favorite Season

Advent has always been one of my favorites seasons, the shortening of the days, lengthening of the darkness and the preparing my home and heart for the miracle of Christmas has always delighted me.  Once the lights have been put up, sitting in their magical illumination and listening to Christmas music has been something I’ve loved since a small child, when we first started hanging lights in the windows.

In those first days of living on my own, when funds were limited, I would spend my evenings with the magical Christmas lights and carols to set the mood while I crocheted, knitted, or sewed hats, scarves, and ties.  It mattered little if the recipient ever wore the gift; and some of them were pretty awful and should not have been worn, but the important part for me was the time I spend making it and thinking of the person. 

After a few years homemade cookies replaced the crafts.  I would collect coffee cans and decorate them.  Then each would be filled with an assortment of cookies.  I opted for hand formed when my attempt at rolled and cut cookies proved a total failure.  Regardless of how they looked they tasted yummy (how could they not loaded with butter and sugar).  This again was a bit of a ritual that I did with my lights and music and thoughts of who would be the recipients.

Secret Santa giving at work was always a stunning exercise in creativity and ingenuity.  I’ve enjoyed writing funny poems and illustrating them, creating themed ornaments for miniature trees, baking and cooking special treats.  Two of the funniest gifts I received were a cut and paste Pick Your Mate mail order catalogue of sexy, male models and 2 D batteries in a hand decorated box boldly noted TOY NON INCLUDED!!!  In the midst of all this fun and silliness there was still the time spent preparing the gifts while thinking of the person to whom they would be given.

I’ve always enjoyed decorating my home with lights, greens, and treasured ornaments.  Over the years I scaled it down and now use a few small artificial trees instead of one large real one.  But the process is still pretty much the same, though now a bit slower.  Before I decorate a room I will evaluate the furniture arrangement and may tweak a bit or do a major rearrange.  In that process thorough cleaning gets done, on the same scale as my Lenten Spring cleaning.  Then when everything is where I want it and sparkling clean I reward myself with putting out the decorations.  This used to be a one or two day job, now I consider it a success if I get one room completed in one day.

There have been periods in my life when I have ignored or denied my desire for a spiritual life.  But even in those years, the spirituality of Advent crept in.  As each room was completed I would (and still do) sit in the illuminated darkness and relish the mystery of Advent, darkness to light, and the miracle of the Christmas birth.

As I got older and connected to my spiritual aspect there has always been, to a greater of lesser degree, a dimension of prayer and contemplation in my Advent preparations.  Sometimes I used a specific book of Advent readings for reflection.  Other times I would take this opportunity to re-start praying with Scripture using http://www.amazon.com/Speak-Lord-Your-Servant-Listening/dp/0892833718. And then there are the times when I pray the Rosary.

I have to explain, I did not grow up in a family where we prayed the Rosary and as a public school kid, we were not taught this in CCD classes.  So, I have never known the exact prayers or order.  But I have always liked the comfort of fingering the beads and understand the each section and bead was meant to focus prayer and reflection. Not knowing the official form, I’ve developed my own.   I find using Rosary beads a wonderful way to guide me through giving thanks for all those who have and do bless my life

I begin with a prayer of gratitude for all the riches and blessings which have and still do fill my life.  Especially my two girls, C & S who have filled my life with such joy and gratitude.  I pray that they may have lives of peace and love.

The first bead is always for brother M he has been a wonderful big brother, my support, rescuer and friend.  The next is for my nephew T and his family.  The bead after that is for my niece M and her family.  The next bead is for my Mother and Father who loved me so well, gave me so much, and who I still miss daily and are ever present in my heart and mind.  The final bead in this section is for my deceased brother J who was a devoted and attentive brother and is remembered with joy and missed with longing. 

I think the remaining sections of the circle are decants, but not sure what is supposed to be done.  I use each for my own focus.  I use the first decant to remember and pray for all the wonderful friends who have and still do fill my life.  I use the second decant to hold in my heart all of my relatives far and wide; there are many and they are spread around the world.  The third decant is where I reflect on those with whom I have worked over the course of my life; both those who have been great colleagues and those, well, not so much.  The fourth decant is for the larger world and those major problems which prevent us from living on a planet of peace, joy, and fulfillment.  The final decant is reserved for special prayers, concerns, people and reflects what may be happening in my life, their lives, and the world at this moment.  I end with a prayer of gratitude and awe, which is neither formula nor scripted; I try to let my heart speak as it needs.  On those rare occasions when words escape me I will rely on the Our Father

I have found that I do like and need a spiritual discipline in my life.  Having a daily practice keeps my heart and mind in a better place.  But, like so many things, I start with gusto and then peter out.  Advent and Lent are two great restarting points for me, each June I go on a week-long retreat which also re-ignites me.  I do hit a dry spell that starts in late fall.  That is perhaps why Advent is so very special.  It motivates me to resume something which nurtures and fulfills my heart and soul.