From the moment I stepped into this chapel, it felt like home. Wood, stone, glass, and flame together breathed a silent welcome. . . .

Advent invites us to prepare the way for the Holy One who comes to meet us. . . . What does “preparing the way” mean to you? . . . How do we open ourselves to being part of the path by which Christ comes into the world? —Jan Richardson

“Repent,” John the baptizer says in his blunt, awkward way.
“Return,” whispers my soul.
“Come home to God,
the ground of your being,
the Love in all love.”

“Prepare the way of the Lord,” John beckons,
and my soul hears,
“Come home to this moment,
this chapel in time.
Embody Jesus’ words,
‘I am in my Father,
and you are in me,
and I am in you.'”

We are one–
not separate from God,
not separate from others.

Sky and earth,
river and rock,
whale and bird,
friend and foe,
you are a part of me.

A voice finds me in the wilderness, and says,
“Prepare a way for all the parts of you
and all the parts of them
to come home to your heart.”

I am far away,
disconnected,
overwhelmed.
All the parts?
Of everyone and everything?

Advent calls me back
to God,
the ground of our being,
the Love in all love.

Here
all of me is welcomed with wood, stone, glass, and flame.
Here
I have room
for everyone and everything
and feel no angst.
I am
whole.

On that day you will realize
that I am in my Father,
and you are in me,
and I am in you.
–John 14:20

∗ ∗ ∗

Love Mischief for the World

Take a moment to pause right now. Imagine yourself lighting the fourth Advent candle, the candle of Love. Take a breath and notice where you are. Allow each breath to return you to the chapel of time in your body, to the truth that we are in Christ, all is in Christ. Picture every part of you and every part of everything and everyone being welcomed home by Love.

What love mischief are you and God doing for the world?
Let me know and I will include it in an upcoming post.

Credits and References:
St. John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness by Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1799) Creative commons.
Quote from In the Mary, Mother of God Chapel, Jan Richardson, Illuminated Advent Retreat, Dec 10, 2020
The phrase “a chapel in time” is adapted from “a palace in time” by Abraham Joshua Heschel Sabbath.
Collage: I made this collage on a retreat in March 2019 after my nephew, Lee, passed away.
“4. Advent” by grosskopf_photography. Used with permission.

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2020.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013-2020.  http://www.estherhizsa.com