“Coming Up Roses” 3 x 3"
Today’s Advent Art Meditation is from Psalm 43: 3-5 and speaks about not giving up hope and trusting in God even when the chips are down.
We all have days that we just don’t want to face. It may be as trivial as not wanting to leave your warm bed on a cold, dark day. Or you may have to look for a job or face a difficult person. Whatever it is, you can trust in God to help you get through it. For me, reframing daily inconveniences into the context of “What does God ask of me in this situation” helps me to find joy and peace each day no matter how mundane or aggravating. It’s like that little bit of caffeine in my morning coffee that gets me up and out. One foot in front of the other, I get through each day and reach at least some of my destinations. I trust there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, even if it’s only from the TV!
In the Catholic church, we use colors to distinguish the liturgical seasons. Three of the four weeks of Advent are symbolized by violet, a royal color for the Prince of Peace. This week, week three, features rose. This past Sunday was called “Gaudete Sunday” (Latin for Rejoice), and is one of only two days during the year when the color is used. It is a combination of violet and white, which is used for major feasts and celebrations like Christmas. If you attended Catholic mass anywhere in the world this weekend, you saw a rose candle being lit, rose garments on the celebrant and rose decorations on the altar. The color is like a little jolt of anticipation in the middle of the Advent season, a reminder that although we still wait, we have not lost hope.
Parties, presents, kids finishing up school projects…it all gets so rushed. The barely-used rose color in church this weekend made me stop, notice, take a breath, and gather strength to keep on going…full caffeine ahead!
You can purchase this tiny artwork here.
