Welcome to this meditation for Advent on Light.
As we come to this meditation,
I invite you to stillness.
Slowly beginning to bring your awareness to your breath.
Following the inhale and the exhale.
Taking some deeper,
Wider breaths.
And as you do,
Letting your body sink,
Allowing your shoulders to drop.
As you continue to breath,
Notice your body.
Notice where it is in the room.
Where it is in the chair.
If your feet are on the floor,
Be aware of the connection between them and the ground.
Notice how your body feels.
And if there are any places of tension that welcome release and letting go.
As you settle into this still space,
I invite you to imagine being in a light filled space.
You may be outside in sunlight.
You may be in a well lit room.
You may simply find yourself in the brilliance of light.
If imagination is difficult for you,
You may want to recall a time when you were in light.
Spend a few moments noticing where you are and what it's like to be here.
What do you see in this place of light?
Is there anyone with you?
How does it feel?
As you remain in this place,
I'm going to offer some words for you to receive and reflect on.
Notice what words or phrases stand out to you as I read and what they invite or offer you.
Then Mary responded saying,
This is amazing.
I will be a mother for the Lord.
As his servant,
I accept whatever he has for me.
There are no manuals for the construction of the individual you would like to become.
You are the only one who can decide this and take up the lifetime of work that it demands.
This is a wonderful privilege and such an exciting adventure.
To grow into the person that your deepest longing desires is a great blessing.
If you can find a creative harmony between your soul and your life,
You will have found something infinitely precious.
You may not be able to do much about the great problems of the world or to change the situation you are in,
But if you can awaken the eternal beauty and light of your soul,
You will bring light wherever you go.
The gift of life is given to us for ourselves and also to bring peace,
Courage and compassion to others.
And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place?
Instead,
It's placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light.
So don't hide your light,
Let it shine brightly before others.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out,
Stay a while.
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again.
It's simple,
They say,
And you too have come into the world to do this.
To go easy,
To be filled with light and to shine.
What places within you feel alive and light-filled at this time?
What does it look like to offer that light to the world?
Are you being invited to let go of anything or any places of overdoing in order to make space for a new light?
Is there a dawn that you are waiting for?
Are you being invited to step out onto a path,
Trusting that light will come as it's needed?
I invite you to return to these questions if they're helpful.
And to re-listen to this meditation and the words they offer.
I pray that your light will come and that you will know the light that you are and the light that is yours to offer the world.
Amen.
Thank you.
