In the womb of the night the life of earth is fragile.
In the womb of the woman the baby-life is fragile.
In the womb of life is the water of salvation: fruitful & fragile.
On the cusp of life and death - this is the place where heaven and earth meet and transform each other.
At renewal group in reading Luke's Gospel aloud, in advent home communions with simple cups and crumbs of bread, in tearing sheets of cloth on which to write & give our offerings to Mary & Joseph in preparation for our manger we have become more aware that life is fragile and precious.
At the blessing of a new home with prayers, feasting and friendship, at responding to the Spirit to carol in a tiny group in a large local nursing home, and in the response to remember ancestors and loved ones of all ages who have died, we have become more aware that life is fragile and precious.
On dreaming and hearing of the death of a friend, on celebrating the birth of new babies connected to our communities, and in the waiting for 2 years for a house, which has now arrived, we have experienced advent pain, advent pregnancy, advent death and advent delivery. We have become more aware that life is fragile and precious.
God of snowflake and starlight,
Help us hold the darkness and the light together.
Help us hold our darkness and light together.
Help us hold others' darkness and light together with them.
So that in these few advent days we bear and bring to birth the hope that you hold within us.
For the sake of the womb-baby Christ child
Fragile and precious
Amen
(From the few days of this week with the community of st. marks and our local communities.)
