12.13.2023 | Second Wednesday of Advent

A chilly, cloudy start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden on this second Wednesday of Advent.  The weather folks tell me we may see some rain this morning.  There should be clearing and a bit of sunshine this afternoon.  Once again, a pretty mild afternoon with highs in the low to mid 50s.  Is this really December in Saint Louis?

The new Hellebores are looking quite lovely in the shade garden.  These 'Lenten Rose' beauties bring a smile to my face every time I see them.  A simple, ordinary grace in this late Autumn time.

The mornings are so dark now.  The late afternoons are dusky quite early and before I'm ready the light is gone.  I'm searching for that light right now.  I am often up for the sun's rise in the morning and outside for the sunset.  What a simple, ordinary joy it is to watch the moon rise up and travel across the sky.  It's Advent and we light our candles early in the evening, offering our prayers and lifting up our hopes as we sit by the fire talking and reading and listening to some music as the darkness deepens. 

The lights on the Christmas tree twinkle and shine providing us with a bit of hope that the light will come.  O Come, O Come Emmanuel we sing.  We continue on in faith, hope and love while we wait for the coming of the light of the world.  The Creator comes.  The Word made flesh.  

O Wisdom.  Lord and Ruler.  Root of Jesse.  Key of David.  Rising Sun.  King of the Nations.  Emmanuel.
Come, Lord Jesus.  Amen.