Inhabiting Advent 

by Janice MacLean

These months of COVID have given us practice in waiting, in longing, in wondering, in watching. These good Advent words have a different sense as they pull us through a pandemic. It’s a long Advent we’re in. We are still Advent-ing through a pandemic.

Perhaps we need new words to help us practice Advent.

I pick “ripe.”

It is one of the words I use to describe this span of time in which we are living.

The time is ripe.

This moment matters. We are not just waiting for Christmas or longing for the return of ordinary time. We are here. Now.

Now is the time to make a difference.

We have inner work to do. We have outer action we need to be about, now.

The potential to be part of a planetary shift in consciousness is ours. We practice Advent by inhabiting the space between the not-yet and the new-arising.

It is not a comfortable place to be. We are not used to giving up our personal spiritual narratives and getting out of our own way so we can see beyond our personal selves. We are not used to naming the power of our privilege and voluntarily laying it down, again and again.

The time is ripe.
The time is uncomfortable.
We are called to inhabit Advent.

What new practice is required? What images support us? In what ways are our spiritual ancestors reaching out and showing us the way?

Let’s practice Advent together at the Prayer Bench.

What three words would you use to describe this span of time in which we are living? Please leave your words below. There is no right or wrong response.

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