advent
Advent is a season that has become very dear to me in the past few years. I suppose I've sort of always known of its existence, even separated as I was from it, not having grown up on a liturgical calendar; my mother was conscious to inform us of the purpose of advent: what it was and why it mattered. But in my adult life I have been drawn to it in a new way. I think that as I have experienced different losses, my soul has yearned for a time that reflects the loss, the yearning, even the darkness, the precursor to what we are all familiar with: the celebration of Christmastide. To celebrate Christmas without thinking of its sister (Advent) seems to me like living in a world in which the main story has been forgotten. This year, myself and 3 dear friends formed a prayer group called "1234." We all purpose to pray for each other each Monday at 12:34pm. It has been a sweet fellowship and a blessed fellowship in which God continually reveals His faithfulness and has made Hi...