“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” Dr. Seuss
Merry Christmas
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A Simple Nativity -
With my latte, again.
My Bedroom and Rocker After 21 months of having a daughter and two teenage grandchildren living with me, I now have my condo back. I have a small one bedroom one bath condo and adding three more people it became much smaller. My daughter and granddaughter slept in my bedroom and my grandson and I used bunk beds in my living room. It was nice to sleep in my own bed in my own bedroom. They really did not bring that much stuff but when all of it is this little condo it seemed like so much more.
So, now we all have moved on to anther phase of life. These months were a stress on all of us. We learned a lot about each other. Some issues we dealt with and some we didn’t. This time allowed me to discover a few things about myself and them that I did not about before. It’s a change not having them here but pretty sure I will adjust in couple of hours. I’ve already noticed it’s quieter and peaceful. I no longer find dirty dishes in the sink or shoes laying around on the floor or curling iron sitting on the bathroom counter or someone in the bathroom.
I missed that bedroom. I was not aware of how much of a sanctuary it was and how much time I spent there. It’s a simple bedroom: a full size bed, a dresser, a small desk and a wicker rocker. I now having quiet mornings, and evenings, in that rocker with my latte, again.
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Altar Bells
Altar Bells An altar or sanctus bell is rung during the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, in Methodism, and in the Anglican Communion. After a little research I found the reasons for ringing bell; first, to create a joyful noise to the Lord; second, the Church bells ringing signaled those not able to attend Mass that something supernatural was taking place. And, they have been a part of the Mass for about 800 years. If you look closely you will notice the bells are different sizes and therefore give different tones when rung. The gentle ringing of these bells is really not disturbing but I suppose could be startling to those who are not expecting it.
My roots are from a Protestant childhood. I converted to Catholicism in my mid thirties, at a time when the church provided much needed support and growth. I call myself a Christian but with reservations with the actions of some professed Christians. I seldom attend Mass anymore for personal reasons, yet I do search out churches where quiet can be found. Just as in nature it is here that I can read, write, spend time in pray, meditation and contemplation. Finding these places helps keep me connected to the Divine and sometimes learn about sanctus bells.
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Quiet Time
Prayer Time The clouds moved into the area late yesterday afternoon. Rain started falling around 8:00 last night and continued throughout the night. Temperature this morning was just above freezing. By midmorning the rain stopped and the skies began to clear. As I look west I can see a dusting of snow along our Colorado Front Range. Winter has made it’s presence known. It’s a quiet sort of day. Hope everyone has a good weekend.
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The Cross and Shadow
The Altar at John XXIII Church “So don’t be frightened, dear friend, if a sadness confronts you larger than any you have ever known, casting its shadow over all you do. You must think that something is happening within you, and remember that life has not forgotten you; it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall. Why would you want to exclude from your life any uneasiness, any pain, any depression, since you don’t know what work they are accomplishing within you?”
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet -
A Small Chapel
A Small Chapel Spent some time at a small chapel. Loved the quiet.
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Listening
Prayer Prayer is first of all listening to God. It’s openness. God is always speaking; he’s always doing something. Prayer is to enter into that activity. … Convert your thoughts into prayer. As we are involved in unceasing thinking, so we are called to unceasing prayer. The difference is not that prayer is thinking about other things, but that prayer is thinking in dialogue, … a conversation with God.
Henri Nouwen
