Listening to a popular media personality recently confirmed an old saw for me (again): 

Talk is Cheap, 

but, I added, 

we need not settle for junk.

My wish for you at the opening of a new year:

Beginner's Mind.

The Advent cycle of the Christian Year is always a reflective and meditative period for me, and the Lectionary readings for this last Sunday of Advent have inspired a new perspective on the recurring spiritual truth of the season.  Two of the readings (Hebrews 10.5-10 and Luke 1.39-45) encourage me to imagine an evocative counterpoint to the traditional sense of the birth of Jesus as the first Advent and his future apocalyptic return as the Second Coming (or Advent).

As I reflected on phrases from both books for much of the past week, I was reminded that “preparing the way” and “consecrating a body” underscore an incarnational, yet abstract and impersonal aspect of Advent (for me).  Then I remembered a phrase from the Gospel of John (3.3), “born from above,” and this captured the personal character of spiritual rebirth as I have come to experience it over many years, and through many advents:

Spiritual rebirth is personal rebirth,

an ultimate and final advent,

an incarnation of Light…

…an Advent within.

I reflected early this morning on one of the Lectionary readings for the Third Sunday of Advent (Philippians 4.7) and was intrigued by the possibility that Paul’s teaching on the “peace of God” is as an advent of divine intelligence which joins with, unites, and guards the heart and mind, actively cultivating personal unity in the here and now. 

The Peace of God is peace of Mind.

May Peace of Mind

be with you,

and with me,

and with us all. 

Forget the events of the past;

Be alert, be present.

See!

I am creating something new!

Now it unfolds and you may receive it!

* A bow to Fritz Kunkel, author of the wonderful book, "Creation Continues," which came to mind as I read a dozen versions of the above verse this morning before compiling my own version to mark the Second Sunday of Advent.

If I were to choose one word to stand for the spiritual challenge of my lifetime it would be "integration."

What one word captures the story or meaning of your life? 

In my experience, Grace is a divine charism,

a gift and power for unity,

for integration and wholeness...

Grace unifies; Grace Yogafies...

morning moon washed

clean slate

I am always looking;

for the seeing.

Writing in a daily journal has increasingly taken on a Zen aspect for me; I sit every day in its pages and see how thoughts arise and pass away, arise and pass away.  This is the practice of shikantaza through journal-keeping, just sitting with the writing for the sake of the writing itself, going nowhere.  I'm finding it to be a useful daily practice, allowing me to resist the impulsiveness of enthusiasm for an insight or experience.  Journaling Zen is just sitting, taking note of thought, and just sitting...

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The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.  - Pema Chodron