The Spirit Descends

Now that I am finally a member of a liturgical church I have to say again and again how much I treasure the richness and depth of the church calendar. (Or as it were, the Kalendar.) The church really offers us a great way to mark time. Perhaps it dates from the initial sadness that grew in the apostolic era as the original church founders realized that Christ's second coming wouldn't be in days, or weeks. Or years. Or in their lifetimes.

As the generations stretched on, Christians got used to the idea that their time on earth would last for generations. Or millennia.

And so the church became great at marking time. The liturgical seasons change and we watch the colors shift. We pray the daily office and watch one year draw to a close and another begin. Colors change on the altar. The collects change weekly. The Office changes daily. There are endless cycles.

I'm thinking about different ways of marking time because my Dad sent me an Advent calendar today. It has no chocolates, but cute little tree ornaments made of wood behind each door instead. It was a really touching thing for him to do because my Dad is not a Christian. He is one of those "spiritual but not religious" people who go to the Unitarian Church. I was always a little afraid about what he must think of the way I've embraced my faith. Especially since I went from unbaptized, to baptized, to confirmed in the space of one year. And I go to mass several times per week. I have been worried that Dad thinks I've joined a cult. However...

... I guess the fact that he sent me my beautiful new Advent calendar says more than words ever can.