Advent Online Retreat Wk. 2

Week Two: Waiting

by Kathy Prudden

Waiting. We have been told that something is going to happen, and we wait in expectation of the fulfillment of that promise. “Active waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it…Waiting, then, is not passive. It involves nurturing the moment, as a mother nurtures the child that is growing in her. Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary were present to the moment. That is why they could hear the angel. They were alert, attentive to the voice that spoke to them and said, “Don’t be afraid. Something is happening to you. Pay attention.” (Henri Nouen, A Spirituality of Waiting: Being Alert to God’s Presence in Our Lives, Weavings, January 1987.)

Advent is all about waiting. People waiting for the Messiah. Mary waiting for the nine months of pregnancy to culminate in a birth. In our rush to get to the destination we risk losing sight of the gifts that come from waiting. The time to nurture what is being incubated within us. Stillness to hear and see where God is acting. A reminder that we are not in control – God is.

If we are willing, waiting gives us time to ponder what matters to us, and what we are longing for. This week, cherish the gift of waiting.

Poetry for Meditation and Reflection

God of the ages,

to whom the hours

are nothing

and everything:

may I know each moment

as a sacred guest

to be welcomed,

to be savored,

to be sent

with a blessing.

-Jan Richardson

Priceless Gifts

And that is why

it grew immense as space.

And suddenly happiness of being entered me.

I heard

in my heartbeat

the birth of time

and each instant of life

one after the other

came rushing in

like priceless gifts.

-Anna Swir

Audio Divina: Music for Meditation and Reflection

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UmfEctmaQ

Wait for the Lord. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7GexIvX8HU

Where are you Christmas? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGSHZYZ74c

In Audio Divina we partner with music to hear the still, small, voice of God, and to enter into God’s presence. Begin by setting aside some quiet time and space in which to listen to the music several times. As you listen to the song the first time be aware of words or melodies that catch your attention. Let them settle into you. After a pause, listen to the song a second time, noting any reflections or prayers that emerge. Then spend several minutes sitting in silence, letting God speak to you. Finally, make notes in your journal about what you heard or experienced. There are multiple songs provided, so you can engage in this activity several times throughout the week.

Suggested Activities:

1. Color. This can be a great way to move into a quiet and reflective space. Check out: http://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/Resources/documents/coloring-advent-hope.pdf; (hope). http://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/Resources/documents/coloring-advent-secret.pdf (the secret)

2. At some point in the week reflect on the question: “What do I need to attend to at this time in my life?” “What is going on that I want to pay attention to?” Live with this question throughout Advent. Give it space to unfold.

3. Use the times of waiting built into your days as a time of nurture. Pray for others, and yourself, while you wait at the light, in line, at an appointment. Listen to music.

4. One of the songs above, ‘Wait for the Lord’, is a Taize piece that can be easily memorized, or downloaded. Use it as a meditation piece throughout your day.

Pictured Above: “Humble Beauty”, Itari Akayama, Creche from Japan