As liturgical seasons go, Advent is my favorite time of the year. This might be evident by the number of reflections I’ve offered over the years during or about this season. I’ve decided to offer periodic reflections during these days running up to Christmas to foster living more consciously and intentionally the beauty and depth of Advent. I will do so using many of these old posts, first in the form of a short self-standing or enticing paragraph, and second, if you have 5-10 minutes, as full pieces you can click the link to read meditatively. In addition, I will include an Advent prayer each Sunday, as I did the first Sunday of Advent, and occasionally other quotes, prayers, poems, or a newer piece of writing.

Not all the pieces posted previously were written during or for the season of Advent but touch on a theme pertinenent to Advent. Today’s reflection is a good example, as it focuses on YEARNING.

“The source of yearning is two-fold. First, yearning is born and raised in poverty. It is impelled by a sense that something is lacking, something is missing, something that should be is not. Yearning knows the panic of indigence and the pangs of emptiness as the yearner knows lack, longsuffering, and at times desperation. Its endgame is fulfillment, true satisfaction, deep contentment which heightens the daily dilemma for the one who yearns, leaving him or her to struggle between acceptance of what is and the desire for what is not.” (from A Word to the Wise — Yearning, February 6, 2016)

To read the entire reflection click here.

Advent Blessings,
Dan