Advent comes to us in the darkness. The night sky seems to stretch on endlessly. I find myself wanting to get ready for bed to only see our clock reads 6:30 PM! The days are colder and I am constantly second-guessing my daily dog-walking attire. The season is cold and dark, and we attempt to fight it off with lights and cheer. But what if we welcomed the cold and the darkness instead of resisting it? What if there is a delight to be found in our shivering hands and extra layers?
Last Sunday, I lead our first Wild Church of Portland service in a nature park down the road. It was a day of unexpected snow. Growing up in Alaska, snow is no big deal but here in Portland, the city shuts down. It was comical, to say the least. I finally got the courage to start a new community of intentional spiritual connection that meets primarily outside and it decides to snow on our very first gathering. When I lead “inside church”, I had control. I could adjust the lights, the chairs, and certainly the temperature. But this, we were vulnerable to what creation openly accepts: the winter cold. I am thankful for our friends who joined us, bundled up with their newest little one, ready to take on the snow.
We huddled under a towering pine. The snow fell around us as my friend, Whitney read our Winter Blessing (which I planned before it snowed). After a scripture reading and a short reflection, we separated for a short wondrous walk. As I saw my husband and friends walk away, I decided to stay and walk down the little dock near our tree. Once I reached the dock, I froze in complete and utter surprise at the sight of a Great Blue Heron just feet from me. I couldn’t believe he was still there after I stomped down the dock ramp like a 200 lb gorilla. All I could do was kneel and stare. The snow falling all around me, he looked at me and then back to the prey he was stocking in the water. I stayed there for the full duration of our walk, I didn’t want to leave. I was held in wholly, overflowing delight of this grand creation in the dead of winter.
Advent comes each year to remind us that there is delight to be found in the cold, dark places of our life. Our lack of control over the elements reminds us that we too are simply a part of this wild world. With unexpected joys, sorrows, and winter snow; God’s captivating wonder over his handiwork can shine brightly on a dark night or sit quietly in snowy waters. Advent is always coming, always reminding, always delighting in the unexpected.
May we embrace, with shivering hands, all that this season has for us.
Welcome to week three of Wild & Wondrous Advent. Below you will find a few simple elements to engage in throughout the week. Near the end of the week or once you’ve done your Wondrous Walk, I encourage you to come back here and join in the discussion in the comment section. This series was created to offer you prompts to engage your spiritual journey more contemplatively through connection to God’s wild and wondrous creation.
A reading to ponder
“When I Am Among the Trees” by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the Willows and the honey locust,
Equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
They give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
~
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world.
but walk slowly, and bow often.
~
Around me, the trees and their leaves
and call out, “ Stay awhile.”
The light flows from the branches.
~
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into this world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.
A scripture to contemplate
Psalm 37: 23, 24
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
What word or phrase stands out to you in this passage? Spend some time in Lectio Divina* prayer this week contemplating this passage and the surrounding passages from Psalm 37
*Lectio Divina means sacred reading in Latin. It is an ancient and contemplative way of reading and praying scripture. The link above is a printable PDF that walks you through the Lectio steps.
A wild and wondrous walk to connect
Plan at least one wild and wondrous walk this next week, lasting around 30 minutes. Choose a spot that you are drawn to, a place to speak to your heart, or if you are short on time, a simple walk in your neighborhood will do. Begin your walk with a minute of deep breaking, inhaling for 6 seconds and exhaling for 6 seconds. Then begin your walk.
Question to ponder: How do you sense delight in God’s creation?
A creation care activity to engage
We cannot care about something we know little about. This week, spend time learning about the local wildlife in your area. Spend a little time reading, even if it is just about the Chickadees that come to your feeder, take the time to learn how to care for our more-than-human friends. I recently learned that Chickadees can remember over 2,000 places they stash seeds for the winter. How incredible! I also learned they prefer sunflower seeds, so I will make sure to stock up this week.
An opportunity to share in the comment section to process
After doing your Wild & Wondrous Walk this week, come back here and share your experience!
Where did you walk? What was the weather like? Where did you see God’s delight in creation? Was it difficult/easy to stay present in the moment?