Digging Out or Cozying In?

I do think that if it is going to be cold enough to snow, it might as well do so. We got our first semi-big snow here in St. Paul over the weekend. Initial forecasts were for 6-12 inches. We got about 5. A few inches expected throughout the week. Saturday, when the snow was beginning to fall, I was out and about (getting some boots from Goodwill, which I am glad I now have), it was maybe 10 degrees with wind chill, snow was coming down, and people were out riding their bikes! Getting one more ride in before there was too much snow and ice, I suppose, but goodness gracious! Snow angels, handstands, and hot chocolate ruled the day.

Advent has begun. I love Advent! The last few years I have been sad to see it come to an end, but I suppose Christmas is a good reason to end it. Already I know a deeper call to prayer and preparation of heart. The priest this morning at mass said in his homily that, "An element of surprise always comes with grace." I thought immediately of my favorite CSJ maxim (84) with which I pray often, "Never run ahead of grace with imprudent eagerness, but quietly await its movement, and when it comes by you, go with it with gentleness, courage, humility, and fidelity." I also connected it with the charism card that I drew for the week: Obedience--being open to the invitation to take the next step. So many invitations, so many graces.

Yesterday Liz, Mary, and I joined a group for a presentation on Julian of Norwich. A minister from here in MN has done a live, play version of Julian in the past, but recently filmed her presentation in Julian's cell in Norwich. After the showing, there was a panel discussion. I read some of Julian's writings a couple of years back, but, as I re-read them in preparation for yesterday, different things struck me. The minister who played Julian, and who was also on the panel, shared that once after a performance a woman came up to her very upset at all of the feminist pieces--speaking of God and even Jesus as Mother--that had been added. The actress was sure to share that nothing had been added, that they were direct quotes from the thirteeth century. This whole feminism thing (in the broadest, truest sense) is really just recycled over and over and over. Hopefully sometime it will stick.

May peacemaking prevail on earth today.

--Sarah