First week of Advent: anniversary and music

It's the first week of Advent. "Advent" means "coming." The four weeks before Christmas, some christians observe the 4 weeks before Christmas rejoicing that Christ has come as a baby into the world (offering Himself and His life), has come into our hearts (and comes to us now), and will come again to receive us to Himself and to make all things right and new. I love this season of the year, and everything that goes with it. We alternate between blue and purple for our Advent color. This year it's blue. I love it.

Last year, Shirley and I added something to celebrate at the beginning of Advent: we got married, and so our anniversary comes at the beginning of Advent every year. To me, that's very cool. So now every year, we'll do Thanksgiving, Advent begins, we have our anniversary, then Cheyenne's (my daughter) birthday, then Christmas, then New Year's, then Epiphany (Jan. 6), then my birthday after that. Wow! Lot of cool stuff all in a row. We celebrated our anniversary by did a weekend went out of town and stayed at a bed and breakfast. We had a great time, and I love my Shirley more than anything in the world--more than I can describe. I love her more every day.

Fungeye met and worked on the new song "In the Dust." It's about people who came to church (and to Christians, who are the Church) looking for Christ, fellowship and a place to belong, but were rejected. Ever had that happen? Probably. Unfortunately, for most of us, it's been a part of life, especially those of us who are involved in the arts--the Church has forgotten that we were well-received in the Middle Ages, and that Christians were patrons to their brothers and sisters who made art. I'm honored that we are writing music to lyrics I have written--it's a dream come true for me. Here's aome of the lyric for "In the Dust":

"I crawled up to the door
black and blue from the road
be gone is what I've been told
why did I even show

laying here in the dust
torn up and kicked and cussed
heart torn out and bleeding
done all my screaming

mercies are new in the morning
that's what You came here for
you said come in the door
and stay with me evermore."


The Psalmist wrote that God's mercies are given to His people new and fresh every morning. St. Benedict the monk and abbot taught on this often. As His people in Christ, we get a new start every morning, because God shows His mercy on us (hesed is the Hebrew word, which means lovingkindness). Our God is loving and kind to us who have received Jesus into our lives--He gives us that mercy and a new start every morning. And I need that. I don't have to keep looking back and remembering and saying that I messed up here, and there, and did this, or that, and that I'm not worth it--that God can't forgive me, make me new, and use me for Himself. I can receive His mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, paid for me on the cross, when He allowed His body to be broken, and when He poured out His blood for our cleansing. I can be the person He created me to be. I can be His instrument, as Francis prayed.

What's in the player? Fubgeye--our rehearsal when we worked on "In the Dust." I was in the dust. And He pulled me out. I remember that when I pray, read my Bible, and receive Him in the Eucharist (Communion). And I thank Him.

He loves each of us, and wants us to draw close to Him, receive Him and His forgiveness and life, and know Him.



under the mercy,
fr francis