We are now entering advent, what a blessed time for us! However, many folks consider this one of the busiest seasons instead of the most reflective. I want to share with you a poem by Jan Richardson. Here you go:
Blessing in the Chaos
To all that is chaotic in you,
let there come silence.
Let there be a calming
of the clamoring, a stilling
of the voices that
have laid their claim on you,
that have made their home in you,
That go with you even to the holy places
but will not let you rest,
will not let you hear your life with wholeness
or feel the grace that fashioned you.
Let what distracts you
cease.
Let what divides you
cease.
Let there come an end
to what diminishes and demeans,
and let depart all that keeps you in its cage.
Let there be an opening
into the quiet
that lies beneath the chaos,
where you find the peace
you did not think possible
and see what shimmers
within the storm.
– Jan Richardson
I share this poem with you because part of my reflection for Advent this year is to answer this question: “How do I resist transformation within myself?”
It was a challenge to answer the question, and there doesn’t seem to be enough time to figure it out. Happily, by chance, I had the opportunity to sit with one of our ‘wisdom’ sisters. We both came to the conclusion that we can become too comfortable in our life and that change is not looked upon kindly.
In re-reading the excerpt from Jan Richardson’s poem (above). A light bulb went on for me. I was inspired with this thought:
We become comfortable (resisting transformation) because we don’t allow the chaos to enter in. We don’t sit with it in silence. For growth and transformation to occur, chaos and silence need to be a part of our lives. I don’t mean the chaos that happens at this time of year like Christmas decorating or shopping. Instead, I mean the things and situations that enter in to our lives that we don’t like -- something that causes us to stretch our minds and hearts.
Hopefully during this Advent season some of this reflection might be relevant to what is happening in your life. Go with the chaos and silence and I bet you will be surprised and renewed as well as joyful for the growth!
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
