The Reason

"One prayer, one strand, one trip to the manger." This was the theme for the Advent Recollection that I attended this week at Ateneo (local Jesuit University with whom GK has a partnership), and it was exactly where I was supposed to be. (Thank you Patrick for extending the invitation.) The theme above fit right in to my last post. During the Recollection, for each of the prayers we held in our hearts, we were invited to take a piece of straw from a basket and take it to the crib we were preparing for Christ. While different in many respects, the concept of a journey to a manger crib, helping to prepare our way for the Christmas coming of Christ really hit home for me. As I continued on my journey that night, I was moved to a very important place. We went through a series of questions about our past year, and how we have reacted. There was a question about Waiting and Hoping. Another question was about focusing on the Positive things we have heard and experienced this year and our reactions to them- were we truly grateful? The third question was directed to our "God Experiences" lately, and being able to find God in the midst of everything - using His light as our guide. All these questions were a wonderful chance for reflection, and I was already incredibly awed by God's presence for that evening. Then the next series of reflective thoughts came. We were asked to think about Family - about those who would not be together THIS Christmas, and about those who were never able to be together. We were asked who we would miss this season, but in remembering them and getting caught up in so much that this season can entail, we were reminded that Jesus IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. I was all caught up in my own crazy series of emotions about not being with my family this Christmas, and about missing them terribly. When I heard the reminder that Jesus is the reason, I had one of those very clear moments where we are truly blessed to recognize God in our Midst and in our mind. As I believe that Jesus is the reason I am here, and with Him being the reason for the season - I knew that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. It did not lessen the missing of my family or even the pain that comes from not being with them this season, but it brought a sense of peace with it. This sense of Peace was actually exactly where the next series of reflective thoughts took us. Peace we were told, was not the absence of conflict, but rather an attitude of Trust in God. So trusting in God, I move forward with the Holiday season, bringing all that I have to offer before the Lord, which often involves a lot of pain, frustrations and even conflict at times. Yet as long as I bring it to Him, still trusting in His plan, I look forward to the gift of Peace this season. Happy Advent, and Know you are all in my prayers for a continual blessed Journey to the Manger where we can behold the Christ Child, our Prince of Peace.