Advent All Around Us

"There is no better way of growing toward perfection in the spiritual life than to be always starting over again and never thinking that we have done enough."

St. Francis de Sales

Miraculously, the natural world is preparing itself right now...Just like it does every season.  It sets the stage for hope, for new life. 

My soul connects.  

A jog in the rain today begged me to question why I should be surprised that God renews the face of the earth this time of year?

Of course, it's Advent all around us.

His timing is always perfect.

As the name Advent signifies coming, from the Latin word Adventus, our souls prepare for the celebration of Christ's coming.  He came as an infant and He will come again, a time and hour we shall not know.  Just like God's creation, we too, prepare for hope eternal, especially this time of year.

One might think a vibrant explosion of color would signify perfection... but no. Instead, it heralds in a steadfast promise of renewal...never perfect but always striving to be more beautiful, inside and out.  The colors fade and trees are stripped but never without hope of coming back bigger and stronger.

A shedding of the old brings a new beginning, a new color in springtime.

A shower from heaven cleanses all around, making way for wonderful things to come.

Advent is all around us, right before our very eyes...

All of creation stands before us, holding up a mirror to our souls.

Am I prepared?

...to toss out the old and make way for the new?

Who do I see in this reflection of mine as Advent arrives again this season of life?... 

Like the fluttering leaves around me, I see someone who is imperfect, often upside down, 

eagerly seeking to be right side up, more vibrant in faith, hope and love.

I come broken and torn...

deeply desiring to be made whole, again and again.

This I feel, this I see, this I know.

A new creation beckons, always, without fail. 

A canopy of God's love awaits, like a babe in a manger, if we only take heed and harden not our hearts.

Preparing to empty self, start anew, in joyful anticipation of a birth that saved the world, is the reason for the season...We see it all around us.

From the womb of a chosen, virgin, sinless, woman, a Savior reigns forever...

She was made mother for us all.

There is so much to look forward to, to celebrate...

In joyful jubilation we turn toward the coming weeks with much work to do but peace in our hearts, knowing that a magnificent masterpiece is unfolding before our eyes.

A new dawn is coming...

 Advent is all around us with a hope that never ends.

Linking up!