Via Beatta--the Blessed Way

 It is the second Sunday of Advent, and I did not make it to church. I woke briefly when my radio station came to life, but rolled over and woke too late for the 10 am service. So, I sit with my Advent wreath at my table, read some of the devotions that others have so thoughtfully prepared, and reflect on the readings appointed for this day--Isaiah 40 (Comfort ye my people) and Mark's appearance of John in the wilderness preparing the way. Some years ago, our staff at St. Luke's recorded reflections for each day of Advent. I was assigned today's readings and wrote this: When I was a young girl living in a rural community where nearly all the extended family lived within a few miles, Christmas Eve was reserved for my dad’s side of the family.  It began with church at 7 or 7:30 PM--only the Catholics in our town had a late service.  We would fill the row of pews across the aisle from those occupied by our second cousins. After  church we drove the few blocks to my grandparent

I truly love the deck at the back of my condo! It is nothing fancy or special—just the usual wooden structure affixed to the rear wall of a vintage city condo that connects with the six flat building’s back stairs. And since I am on the top floor, mine lacks a “ceiling” that the others have. It is on the west side, so there is blistering sunlight from about noon on. I make do with a very cute, very French looking blue and white striped patio umbrella. Now all that sounds reasonably nice. What is challenging is that it is on the alley. My view is of parking lots for the other buildings on the block and rows of dumpsters and garbage cans for both trash and recycling. As well as the growl and grinding of a parade of garbage trucks. In Chicago, where I live, the City sanitation department takes care of single family dwellings and building with five or fewer units. So, all with six or more contract with a scavenging company of which there must be five or six that serve our block of a dozen

  God’s Dream—7/4/21 We need to be reminded that God has a dream for us in which all His children and indeed the whole of His creation will live in the harmonious interdependence which was God's intention from the beginning. --Archbishop Desmond Tutu This concept of God's dream for the world has long rung in my heart. As far as I know, I first heard of it in relation to Bp. Tutu, though not precisely in his words above but probably quoted by others in sermons and prayers. It seems a dream that is not about a "pie in the sky when you die" paradise to be had in the distant future if we have lived a good life here. Rather, it is about the world as it could be--as it should be--right here and now. if only we could align ourselves with what God intended at the creation. I am acutely aware these days of the vast gulf between this world and God's dream. It has become more  evident over the past year or so--not just with the realities of the pandemic, but with the voices