Nativity - Black Hole Or Pre-birth Rest?

 

 

Maureen, who sent me the above, is inviting a cross-section of local life to her home on Christmas Day. But here on Holy Island we are shutting down our Retreat House. Celtic tradition values seasons.  We prayed that the stones, the fabric and the floors might be  rested in order to bless the season of visitors who will follow.  People, too, are heeding this call to rest. Graham is to go into a season, not of purdah or shutting down, but of reflection and  having his praying times alone - in order to study more of the spirit of soul friendship within the Trinity and  in Celtic Christians who were in touch with their emotions, bodies and minds and  made deep connections with others.

 

 

Before Mary could give birth to Jesus she doubtless had to rest, albeit  in a place  far from home comforts.

For many, dread,  loneliness or drunkeness surface at Christmas. If we face these demons and go into the place of deepest darkness, that may become the place where something wonderful, and of God, is born.

 

Happy Christmas.

 

Ray