Tuesday, December 1, 2009

childlike


Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72 Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever; Lk 10:21-24

"you have revealed them to the childlike...:

The words of Jesus in the gospel captures the essence of the season of Advent.

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, as we prepare to receive the Christ child in the manger, we are invited to become small again; we are invited to rediscover what it means to be a child.

Advent is a time we unlearn all of the pretense that has gathered on us like dust. We shake ourselves free from being all grown up and discover the child that can be in awe of God's beauty and creation.

Advent is where and when we unlearn our self-importance, unlearn our sense of having to run the world, or even having to run our own lives and we surrender.

Advent is a time when we stop trying to solve life's mystery and we embrace the mystery that brings life.

Now is the time to embrace the inner child: creative, imaginative, trusting, innocent, loving to love and being in awe of everything. It is time to let God "wow" us.

Here in the words of G.K. Chesterton we find meaning in life itself: "The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation for them."

Only the child can truly appreciate the wonder of it all. Only a child can recognize the full worth of what the eye beholds.


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