“And still I believe you will come, Lord: you will”
May the impossible come for you this season, too
Need a last-minute Christmas present? I wrote a book for the whole season with artwork from Jessica Coe at The Living Heart Co. Emmanuel: A Christmas Feast is a hardcover coffee table book on the names of Jesus, including Scripture for each day, original prayers and reflections by me, and hymns and sermons from the early church. On super sale now for only $10!
Jess also created this gorgeous ornament to support the work of Catholic Relief Services whose work is near & dear to my heart.
A must-read essay on grief (and shingles, of all things) from
.Another powerful reflection on grief and how it doesn’t disqualify us from Advent, by Kalina Carlson at Faith & Leadership.
Speaking of shepherds: “Song of the Shepherds” by Richard Bauckham. Malcolm Guite, the poet-writer-theologian-troubadour who shares/reads the poem here, is a delightful artist himself, so stick around there and enjoy his words.
“Everything that seemed impossible, stern as closed doors or solid as brick walls, suddenly softens to the pliable possibility of God making ways where there were none.” On God being in the business of impossible things.
Wisdom from Simcha Fischer on 4 ways to keep the Advent season in proportion: “You must firmly tell yourself: This is the work of a CROWD. Nobody is doing all of this.”
Worth remembering wherever you encounter young people, at Christmas or anytime: Jesus was a teenager, too.
“Making the House Ready for the Lord” always feels like a perfect read by this point in December.
In the spirit of this litany of an imperfect Advent from Be A Heart Design, you might want to check out these Prayers for Overwhelmed Parents if you’re stressed about your finances, crowded calendar, or mental health.
Here’s a redeeming story from social media: A new writer tweeted about a low book signing turnout, and famous authors commiserated.
A surprisingly gorgeous read on the mystery of math leading to divinity: How mathematics changed me from Alec Wilkinson at The New Yorker.
Finally, this offering from me to you:
“December is the darkness of the year. The shorter days make twinkle lights glimmer & candles glow, but this season also makes many hearts sink. If yours is one of them & you find yourself out of sorts because isn’t this supposed to be The Most Wonderful Time, then let yourself seek solace in the truth that many, many humans find this time hard to bear. You aren’t broken or alone. You are a creature awaiting the hope of another dawn.”
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