The Advent Season

Today marks the beginning of Advent, a spiritual season that I greatly revere. Having been raised in the Methodist church, Advent was an ever-present element of the holiday season. Each Sunday I looked forward to another candle being lit, for the virtues I not only admire in a life of faith, but in a life as whole. Peace, joy, hope, and love...characteristics I see humanity losing grasp of everyday...being raised with Advent has shaped more of my life than I could have ever known at the time, as I still strive to find and spread peacejoyhopelove with each passing moment.

Now that I am grown, I gain a new appreciation for the true spirit of Advent...it is to be a time of yearning, longing even, for something far greater than ourselves that will move within the people and spark an anticipation for the gift that was offered to all thousands of years ago. This year, I hope my husband and I can take each day of the season and pause, preparing for the beginning of another year and another opportunity to spark change and love in our community. Through teaching and being involved with a church youth group, I can speak and say that love has become an afterthought...a fleeting philosophy that sadly surprises many when it is shown...when and how did we become confused and bewildered at utterances of good will? As of late, I am battling with this tremendously, within my own heart...if it was physically, viscerally possible I would walk the world and tell every human being that I love them...that I wish them peace in their lives...that I desire them to find joy in the simple, beautiful frames of living. I am constantly burdened by this, so much that my heart begins to pound and my ears are filled with muddiness...I know I will never come into contact with every living soul on the planet, but I can start with a few and plant the seeds of peace. To think...it all starts with seeds...

I am reading The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila and loving every minute of it. Once again, I have found a kindred spirit in a being that I will never meet, never share a cup of tea with...just confirms my mother's suspicions that I am an "old soul"...Zac has Thomas Merton, and I now have St. Teresa...Thomas and Teresa...hmmmmm....

Back to school tomorrow...I know my students will not be thrilled about starting poetry, specifically poetic meter, but hopefully the Flobots and some Def Jam Poetry will catalyze interest...hopefully...

Seasons Change

I created this blog about a month and a half ago and am just now getting around to creating my first post. I feel, though, that this is coming at an appropriate time of year, of life. The season has officially changed and cold can no longer be avoided. The days are crisp and action is invigorated. I hope to use this blog in many ways; to share experiences from life and my first year of teaching, to share my writing, which is rare, and to create a vehicle with which to invoke all that permeates my thoughts during the day, to put down in text. Here is what I have for the world at this time:

In the land of wheat
Full of field and sun
Where the summer's hot
and the winter is strange
where the weather blends from
season to season
a change is blowing in and it can not...
SHOULD not
be ignored
tornadoes come and we jump into the bathtub
a storm and the lights go off,
and we scream from fear of darkness
We have been promised protection...
We have been saved from a miry pit...
Because we have so freely received, we have much to give,
And as change comes, we must offer more than ever...
Make ourselves available to listen...to work...
to dance with those who need to dance...
To bring understanding and community to the table,
that all may be filled with a warm portion
of something greater than the earthly powers that be...