PREPARATION

Preparation... it is happening everywhere here in England. The city is cleaning and building in preparation for the Olympic Games that will be here next summer. Many of the students here are preparing for their upcoming exams. Today, I am cleaning the chapel knowing that we will be getting ready for Advent soon. And, just as I felt prompted to begin to clean the chapel and get ready for what was to come... there is an invitation also to be present interiorly to this time preceding Advent.

In the last blog, the Word highlighted from Ecclesiastes spoke of each season having its definite purpose. And what a beautiful time to be with Mary as she was in an intentional season before the Annunciation.

But does that time before the Angel came have to teach us? What does Mary teach us?

Surely, she must have had stirrings in her heart in those preceding weeks and months... desires which the Father had already knit into her. Desires which she would have been attentive to. Desires which she would have already been sharing with God as He awakened them in her heart. And what beauty that she teaches us that she simply remained in great humility and related all these stirrings in her heart back to God. She would not have taken them and tried to figure things out on her own or make sense of it all or demand immediate clarity or even move God's plan along ... no, she teaches us a more perfect way of surrender to the One who holds the seasons of our lives in His hands. She shows us how to be present to each moment and give all things back to God - always. She would have perfectly lived out that season preceding the annunciation.. for it indeed had a great purpose as well.

In my life He has given many opportunities to grow in patience. And I have grown to love the waiting. NOT that the waiting is easy or glamourous or something that would attract others as a way of living. BUT, I do know that He is IN the waiting. And because of that, there is faith in the waiting.. there is hope in the waiting... there is love in the waiting. So, when the world cries out for immediacy... even as others look for immediate evidence of great fruitfulness in ministry.. He is this contradiction and He is the only source of all fulfillment. We are all being prepared and we are all waiting for something... can we receive the hope in the waiting as Mary did? Can we share those desires to God?

For Mary, in those weeks months and years before the annunciation, The Father, her beloved, would have already been part of an ongoing exchange, as she shared all things with Him. In this sort of faithful sharing there is trust, intimacy and a communion of hearts. There is an invitation in this closeness to God also for each of us. This intimate love is what anchors us for all that may be difficult in our lives. And, through such a way of sharing there is the beauty of being emptied of our own Will.. in order to become open to receive His Will and His desires for our life.

One of the greatest gifts in my life is to be with Mary as she teaches my heart so much. And as we invite her into our lives during this time and we stay present to the present moment or the present season we can ask her to teach us to simply be present to each moment WITH God. And to share and relate everything back to God. For He who holds all things in His hands is the one to perfectly orchestrates each and every season of our lives!

The first lines from one of St Therese's prayers...

May there be peace within you.

Today, may you trust you are EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE MEANT TO BE

There is such hope in this. And a beautiful invitation of surrender.... trusting He is always leading... He is always caring.... and He is always the one looking ahead so that we can be where we need to be... in the PRESENT moment of our lives.

Mary, teach us to be present to the present moment, surrendered totally to the Fahter's perfect care!

Bless you all.