Hope comes in little ways,
it only takes one shining star,
one faithful friend,
one wisp of inspiration,
one touch of creation's beauty,
one deep sip of love,
to keep the illumination alive in us.
~Joyce Rupp
Sometimes symbols evoke emotions and memories. They are like doorways into the soul. They spark our imagination and enable us to access a deeper meaning and purpose than appears on the surface. Art, objects and images nourish our spiritual lives and often connect more directly than words. Below we are offering several suggestions using ordinary stones as symbols of hope and wonder. The stone can be a carrier of hope for you or to encourage others.
Prayer Practice
Go outside and find a small stone. Hold it in your hand and feel the weight of it in your palm. Recall a moment or experience that gives you comfort, that always reminds you of a sense of hope or wonder. Now place it in your coat pocket or your purse or wallet. Sometime in the next couple of days, touch the stone in your pocket, or sense it in your purse or wallet. Breathe in the hope, wonder or meaning found in that stone and in that experience. ~Carrie Newcomer
You could also paint a stone or pebble and keep it in a place that reminds you each day of this week's theme of "Finding Light in Hope" or paint a word of encouragement on a stone that will carry you through this advent season. Perhaps you could paint one stone each week for the four weeks of advent: Finding Light in Hope, in Love, in Joy, and in Peace. Another idea is to paint stones and hide them somewhere for others to find, offering hope and encouragement. Let the stone be a messenger of hope.
Prayer
May the message on this stone, "Finding Light in Hope" remind us that our hope is grounded in you, O Holy One. Through the joys and struggles of our lives, help us to wait in silence and hope, knowing you accompany us on our journey. We are grateful that we are not alone.
Song
Waiting in Silence by Carey Landry
Resources
Newcomer, C. (November 20, 2020) A Gathering of Spirits, Sunday.
Rupp, Joyce. (2002). The Cosmic Dance: An Invitation to Experience Our Oneness. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books.
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