Luke 1:78–79
By the
tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give
light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our
feet into a way of peace.
Here we are on the cusp of Christmas, christ-mass, God-with-us, Emmanuel.
Here we are ending Advent with a beginning, a birthing. Light and dark commingle so we find ourselves in a blessed place, God's place, filled with blessed blessedness. Artist Valerie Sjodin depicts that place in her painting, and you can see more of her energetic, lively art HERE
As we end our journey of Advent Explorations so you can begin Christmas celebrations, let me leave you with a blessing written by artist and poet, Jan Richardson.
Delivered
: A Blessing
From the
hundred wants
that tug at
us.
From the
thousand voices
that hound
us.
From every
fear
that haunts
us.
From each
confusion
that
inhabits us.
From what
comes
to divide,
to destroy.
From what
disturbs
and does not
let us rest.
Deliver us,
o God,
and draw us
into
your
relentless
peace.
A Merry Christmas to one and all!
