Advent

Last Sunday I drove home from the Philly airport late at night. After another weekend visiting with mom and dad, I came home grateful of the time were are so fortunate to spend together. On this visit I caught up with another cousin. She actually chaperoned my parents when they were dating and lovingly reminded my mom of those early days of their courtship. We laughed, cried, prayed and caught up as adults. She's a little bit older than me and in my young mind she was always glamorous, well put together, and so very loving and kind. She told my mom how she used to look up to her when she was a little girl, turns out that it was for the same reasons I admired her. My mom lived with her family in Puerto Rico after leaving Cuba and we shared many holidays and good times over the years. It is incredibly fulfilling to witness as my mother reaps what she sowed over a lifetime of touching people in ways that are now coming to light. It was a wonderful and difficult visit. On the way home my husband called with the news of his father's death. So we continue to work out the logistics and the many feelings that crowd our hearts and hope to keep it all together.

The stresses on our family are heavy now. But every day we get up and put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Today at church we celebrated Christ the King Sunday as we prepare for the beginning of Advent. Two babies were baptized and my son was presented with his Bible. It was an uplifting service and I was happy to be there; no longer feeling afraid to go to church with a sometimes heavy heart and tears brimming in my eyes. Once in the Sanctuary, I am focused on worship and giving thanks, not so much on the illness and death surrounding my loved ones. I know this peace is God's doing and not my own.

Last Sunday on my drive home I was enveloped in heavy fog. The roads were not lit and the high beams and fog lights provided scant visibility. I turned on the hazard lights in case another driver came up suddenly behind me and kept my eyes focused on the white lines delineating the lanes on the road. Looking into the rearview mirror all I saw was solid darkness. Looking ahead, there was only fog. But I had the trusty lines on the road guiding me home.

I trust that God's Word will guide me in His ways during these times of grief and challenge. My friends and family see the red flashing hazard lights and approach with love and care. Despite all the sadness I am immensely grateful for the love and light that surrounds me.

The Gospel lesson in today's service was from the first chapter of Luke, and concluded with these words: "By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."