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A Poem: Threshold of Winter
A Poem: Threshold of Winter
"The silence of the earth is the fullness of God."* – Celtic Proverb
For Thought
For Thought
As the earth prepares for the coming light in silence and stillness, what practices or spaces in your life help you embrace the quiet anticipation of new beginnings?
[For Use as Sermon, Small Group Reflection or Personal Meditation]
Scripture Reading: Luke 21:25-36
Message: A Sacred Pause
Message: A Sacred Pause
As we step into the season of Advent, we are invited into a paradox—a time of waiting and anticipation, yet also a call to awaken and prepare. Advent is not passive; it is an active, sacred pause. Like winter itself, it urges us to slow down, to listen, and to sense the stirrings of something greater than ourselves.
The Gospel of Luke offers a vivid, almost startling image of the future: signs in the heavens, roaring seas, trembling nations. It feels chaotic, even apocalyptic. Yet Jesus tells us to “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” The message is clear: do not fear. The darkness and upheaval are but the threshold of something new—a reminder that every ending carries the seed of a beginning.
The prophet Jeremiah echoes this theme in today’s reading, proclaiming, *“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made.”* Jeremiah speaks to a people longing for hope, assuring them that righteousness will spring forth like a branch, bringing justice and peace. Similarly, the psalmist lifts their soul to God, seeking guidance and truth amidst uncertainty.
This season asks us to stand at our own thresholds, much like nature in winter. The earth stills, the days shorten, and the cold wraps around us. Yet beneath this dormancy, life is preparing for renewal. Advent mirrors this rhythm, inviting us to pause and reflect, not out of resignation but in faithful preparation.
In the poem *Winter’s Threshold,* we are reminded of the power of stillness. The poem reflects the sacred quiet of winter, a time when the earth itself teaches us to wait with expectation. It is a season when the world steps back, creating space for the light to return.
This resonates deeply with the Advent call in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians: *“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.”* Faithful waiting is not idle. It is active, growing our capacity for love and preparing our hearts for transformation.
Standing at a threshold can feel unsettling. Like the imagery in Luke, we may feel the pull of the unknown, even fear. But thresholds are sacred spaces. They are where heaven and earth meet, where the ordinary brushes against the eternal.
Advent invites us to dwell in this liminal space. The light we await—whether it comes as the return of Christ, the renewal of hope, or the deepening of love—does not depend on our striving but on our openness. The Psalmist’s prayer, *“Lead me in your truth, and teach me,”* becomes our prayer too. We trust that the light will return, even if we cannot yet see it.
[An Advent Invitation]
As we begin this season, let us take time to pause at this winter threshold. What are we waiting for? What light do we long to see break into the world? Let us remember that our waiting is not in vain, nor is it passive. It is sacred, it is hopeful, and it prepares the way for something beautiful and transformative.
May this Advent be a season where we, like the earth in winter, rest and ready ourselves. May we listen to the stillness, trust in the promise of light, and step boldly into the sacred mystery of this threshold.
To God, the eternal source of light, be the glory. Amen.
Interfaith Connections
Interfaith Connections
Christian Focus
"Be still, and know that I am God."* – Psalm 46:10
Buddist Focus
"Be like a tree in winter; patient and still, knowing that renewal comes in its time."* – Zen Proverb
Saintly Focus
"Be silent and attentive within yourself, and you will rise above the poverty of words."* – St. Isaac the Syrian
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Moment of Musical Reflection
Moment of Musical Reflection
O Come O Come Emmanuel - for King & Country
Video Transcript
Video Transcript
-----Winter’s Threshold Transcript-----
As the world retreats into quietude,
and the brittle edge of air bites soft at dawn,
we stand at winter's sacred threshold,
a liminal silence deep as roots unseen.
Here, where light slips into silver dusk,
the earth learns the weight of stillness,
every leaf fallen in gentle surrender,
each branch laid bare to the eye of the sky.
In this hushed, unwritten time,
when the heart listens for what is unseen,
the soul begins its inward pilgrimage,
drawn to the ancient hearth within.
Let the wind, a wise and silent teacher,
show you the art of yielding, of letting go—
as it gathers whispers from the far fields,
from the stones, from the hallowed trees.
For in this season, winter’s veil thins
and the unseen presses close to be known,
the Divine voice whispers in empty spaces,
and breath is made holy in the cold.
May you find grace in the quiet waiting,
a sanctuary in the chill of dawn,
where each step upon frozen ground
draws you deeper into mystery’s heart.
c2024 Quiet Well Project
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