Category: Spirituality
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Left hanging
I am reflecting today on the message of Good Friday and how it offers us the opportunity to examine the experience of human suffering as a spiritual wake-up call – to be more compassionate, empathetic and present for others. I have been thinking of all the ways that like Jesus, we are left to suffer – and how often…
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Give yourself a treat (Advent Day 20)
Are visions of sugarplums dancing in your head? As I write this, my daughter is dancing joyfully in the kitchen to Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite,” her enthusiasm no doubt fueled by some treats from her classroom holiday party earlier today. Celebrate the magic and sweetness of this season with a treat, something to warm and lift…
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Give a kind word (Advent Day 19)
So much of the negativity and tension we experience throughout the year – and during the holidays – has to do with what we say and hear from others. In the age of digital media, it has become so commonplace for people to post, tweet or video whatever they want, without considering the social, emotional…
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Give someone a meal (Advent Day 18)
Did you know that over 36 million people – including 13 million children – experience hunger or the risk of hunger in the United States? That means that more than one in ten households in your community are having difficulty putting food on their table or in their bellies each day. Some of those people…
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Give your light to others (Advent Day 17)
So many times in life, we walk in darkness. Advent is the promise that our time in darkness will end, and the light of the world will shines upon us again. We light the candles of hope, love, peace and joy each Sunday during Advent to remind ourselves that life-affirming light is always within reach,…
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Give in to wonderment (Advent Day 16)
One of the best things about Advent and the holiday season is the opportunity to delight in the spectacle of warm lights and bright color all around us, especially as the days get shorter and colder. Everything right now is glittery, glitzy and over-the-top. Magical moments are everywhere you look. I love that more of…
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Give words of encouragement (Advent Day 15)
Do you know someone who is going through a tough time right now? Maybe he is struggling with a relationship or family issue. Or she was laid off and in the process of trying to find a new job. Perhaps it’s a student cramming to get through finals and finish papers for the semester. And…
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Give yourself a day off (Advent Day 14)
The next ten days before Christmas are usually a whirlwind of hectic activity – holiday luncheons, evening parties, church and school events, shopping, wrapping, cooking and baking… Is your head spinning now? If not, kudos to you! But if it is, give yourself a day off (or at least a few hours or an evening)…
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Give a nice greeting (Advent Day 13)
During the holidays, I notice that strangers are more likely to start up conversations while waiting on line, or wishing each other well in passing. The personal boundaries we usually keep up the rest of the year falls during the holidays, when people are feeling more excited, open and generous. The other day, I was…
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Give yourself space to let the light in (Advent Day 12)
The holidays can be a very hectic time – both joyous and stressful. Add to it colder temperatures and shorter daylight hours, which can darken moods and zap energy. During Advent, we wait in ever-deepening anticipation of what is to come, and what has been promised. We wait, preparing to move from darkness into a…
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