“But I also say this:
that light is an invitation
to happiness,
and that happiness,
when it's done right,
is a kind of holiness,
palpable and redemptive.”
(Mary Oliver)
On this first day of December, we are adding an additional post to invite you to a spiritual practice of noticing the places of light that invite us to a tender and holy happiness, of which Mary Oliver writes.
Especially in these days of increasing dark and cold, and the stress of holiday preparations, taking a moment to notice God's light breaking into our lives, can inspire us and fill us with hope. John O'Donohue writes, "We continue in our days to wander between shadowing and the brightening, while all the time a more subtle brightness sustains us." Our hope is that this practice will help you notice that "subtle brightness" that is sustaining you this Advent.
To keep a record of these places of light, you could use (and perhaps decorate) a journal or a notebook that you already own, but it can be fun and meaningful to make a small accordion book that you can easily carry with you. Some of you may remember making these books, as Advent travel journals, called "vade mecum" meaning "go with me", on a Kairos Advent Day at the Jesuit Center a few years ago. There are many many YouTube videos and websites with instructions for making an accordion book. It is quite simple and fun. A few are listed at the bottom of this post.
Look around you. What touches your heart today? The early-morning's lavender & coral sunrise? The kind eyes of a salesperson when you remember to pause and really look at them? Hearing the sudden, exquisite piercing song of the white-throated sparrow? Touching the soft skin of your loved one? Or it might be smells: of pine, cinnamon and woodsmoke, or the taste of ginger cookies and peppermint candy canes.
You could write (or sketch) these places of brightness in the pages of your book. You might also like to record a word from your morning devotions and illustrate it, or paste a photo, or something found on a walk like a leaf or a feather. You could also write a gratitude for each day. There are so many possibilities for how you might use your accordion book.
Before you begin, take some time to consider these different possibilities and notice how you feel drawn. Maybe you'll decide not to record these moments of Light in a book at all, but will still practice pausing in your day to notice God's light -- and give thanks.
For a "vade mecum" accordion book, you can use any kind of paper that you have around the house, but a slightly thicker paper produces pages that are more sturdy. I have used watercolor paper, craft paper, card stock, and manila folders.
1) Simple written directions for the book above can be found at:
2) Here's a YouTube video with easy-to-follow instructions:
There are many tutorials on YouTube with various options such as making pockets in your book which is quite easy.
Have fun creating!! If you feel led, please share a photo of your book in the comments section sometime during Advent - we'd love to see them!
Advent blessings!!
Comentários