There is a season (turn turn turn) December 26
One of the things that we put some effort into in this brotherhood I’m a part of is observing different times and seasons. The seasons of Advent has, over the last several years, become one of my favorite times of the year. The old year is dying, the days are the darkest of the year (at least north of the equator, in Belfast that’s very dark indeed). We go through a special set of scripture reflections during the special seasons, with everyone in the house putting aside or at least supplementing their personal studies with our house meditations. We take a part of our dinners to share any reflections and insights that we have from the passage of the day. I find it a great way to engage in and reflect on what God is about during the time.
Early on during Advent a phrase from 2 Peter 3 “waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord” caught my attention. I found myself coming back to this passage on several occasions over the last weeks. I believe that Christ is going to come again, that there is a building of and preparing for his kingdom that I am supposed to participate in. Does my life reflect that? Am I available to Christ and his plan? Am I repentant of the sin, the pride and distraction, in my life as there is no place for it in the life of a disciple. Am I even *aware* of it? Some very sobering reflections for me. I am meant to prepare the way and point to Christ with my life, but thanks be to God it isn’t up to me and my own resources to accomplish this. It is the work of God and the Holy Spirit working in and through me that will allow me, as I cooperate with grace offered, to journey on in hope faith and love.
A very prominent feature of this Lent was marking the difficult experience of one of the brothers here in Belfast. Doug Smith has lived and ministered here in Belfast with the Servants of the Word for nearly fifteen years. Earlier this fall it became apparent that his mother’s cancer had recurred. It was unclear how quickly things would run their course. In the end, after talking it over with the rest of the brothers, Doug decided to move up a planned trip home by several weeks. His sister back in Ohio was under quite a lot of pressure and Doug was able to step in and really aid the cause of everyone and was able to spend good time with his Mom. Doug was able to extend his stay to a couple weeks and was with his mother in the hospital the last night as she died. It so happened that Dave Quintana (Q) from the house here was in Michigan for some meetings and was able to attend the funeral in Ohio along with several of the brothers living in Michigan. The day of the funeral we began a week of mourning here in the house - some fasting, specific prayers, and mourning Psalms in our prayer room.
The chance to join with and support Doug in his grieving was a real blessing. It was remarkable seeing how the Lord really provided for Doug and the Smith family through the whole time. Seeing Doug go through this gave me an opportunity to reflect on my own commitments. The way of life I think the Lord has opened up to me and I am choosing for does not allow me to be a part of my family in the way I would be if married. There is real sacrifice there, but there is also a blessing. Because of Doug’s decision to live single he was more free to put other things aside and help his mother, father, and family during this time. He was also able to witness to hope in the Lord and eternal life in a profound and comforting way to his whole family.
A less spiritual aspect of Advent has been the beginning of house basketball on Monday evenings before dinner. Basketball was really my sport growing up, at least until about the age of twelve. That’s when I peaked as a starting guard on the Holy Family Wild Cats boys B team. Unfortunately it’s been all downhill since then. The games are fun, and good exercise, and somehow I manage to come down with more then my fair share of rebounds, it’s just the shooting, dribbling, and passing that I can’t do.
From Advent, to mourning within Advent, and now to Christmas. The last several days have been packed with celebration, feasting, rejoicing, and prayer. Saturday was a big spruce up day, cleaning the whole house top to bottom (I dusted and hoovered, the UK word for vacuuming for four hours), and then having a Lord’s Day celebration for the fourth Sunday in Advent. Sunday morning it was off to church. While the fourth candle was dutifully lit on the wreath the sermon and rest of mass certainly left Advent in the dust. Martin spent most of the rest of the day preparing for our house Christmas Eve celebration. He was main chef, pulled together a prayer service inspired by Orthodox and Anglican Christmas traditions, and did most of the decorating, including a real Christmas tree (first in many years for me) with actual candles we lit during dinner. Dinner was some beautiful salmon given to us by a family in Charis. We shared family Christmas traditions over dinner and I mentioned the oplatek, blessing/reconciliation bread we always share on Christmas eve at my grandparents. After dinner I called the grandma and grandpa’s place where most of my Dad’s side of the family was gathered. It was somewhat surreal having maybe twenty two minute conversations, hard to remember exactly who said what, but it was really nice to have a small connection with the family Christmas eve. After that off to church again for midnight mass.
Christmas day we had a early afternoon house prayer and hors d’oeuvres time. Restraint not being a strong point for me it was difficult, but necesary to hold back from another wee piece of the fancy cheeses and such. After a quick nap it was off Christmas dinner. All the brothers in the house joined different families in Charis. I was at the Semple home, for a lovely and ample feast. As things wound down about 7:30 after dessert, coffee, a little more dessert, it was time to head out. Many of the families in Charis live in one neighborhood called Greystown. Every family has their own Christmas dinner with assorted guests like myself, but then the wandering begins. After the Semples I was in four other houses. Laughing, caroling, eating, drinking, and general Christmas merriment ensued on a grand scale. A great celebration and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Tomorrow it’s off to for a week in Norfolk for our brotherhood Christmas retreat. We’ll be joining the brothers from the London house somewhere off in the English country side. Should be good craic, tis the season you know.