Prepare the way of the Lord
Amid the demands of everyday life, when do you get the luxury of simply thinking about a word? When do you get to be the philosopher, the theologian, the mystic, the artist?
While we attend to everyday demands our hearts often long for something more, something fuller, richer, and expansive. The truth is that from time to time you simply have to make the time to stop, breathe deeply, and in the time you have just created and claimed, turn heart and mind and soul to "deeper things." You have to make time to be the philosopher, the theologian, the mystic, the artist.
Joy is an often used word in this season. Take time out from all the busy-ness of December and make the time to let yourself wonder about this word. Grow in grace as you consider the word and what it means to you as an individual, to you as a couple, to our church family, to our world. Make the time to wonder. Make the time to share your discoveries. Make the time for grace and God's love to become real to you.
To help you into this:
The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything.
— Julian of Norwich quoted in Meditations with Julian of Norwich
by Brendan Doyle...even dirty dishes, dirty laundry, and dirty diapers? Dan
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
— John 15:14...as many have discovered joy and happiness are not synonyms; even in the darkest moments a person may discover the profound joy of which Jesus speaks. Dan
As a further help in exploring the word joy and for exploring many other ways to go from the everyday world into the heart of God I recommend the work of Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat presented in the website Spirituality and Practice. The link provided here will give you plenty of material on the word Joy.
Spirituality and Practice: Joy
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Index of Meditations Previously Offered
Note: This is a work in
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Lessons & Carols - December 10th
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Church 47535 Highway 74
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Tel: 760.346.2697 Fax: 760.341.1212 On
line:
www.stmargarets.org