Spiritual Friendship -- Day 8

            After the angel visited Mary, she hurried to see her cousin Elizabeth. She didn’t know Elizabeth was also miraculously pregnant; she just needed to share this amazing thing that had happened to her. And Elizabeth listened, not only to Mary, but to the babe who leapt for joy in her own womb. (Luke 1:39-56)

            This story is a wonderful model of spiritual friendship. We all need people with whom we can share the experience of journeying with God. Telling our stories and listening to others’ stories not only helps to connect us to each other and to God, but helps us to better understand how the Spirit is working in our lives and our world.

            I have a spiritual friendship circle. We talk on the phone every other week and share what we are thinking about, what experiences we have had, encourage each other, support each other, challenge each other, and most importantly listen – to each other and to the still, small voice deep inside us. And in the process, we help each other see the signs and blessings we may have missed along the way.

            During Advent, my group has committed to praying everyday, “Lord, give me grace.” Then each day we write what moments of grace, blessing, or connection we had during that day. It’s our way to mark this time of Advent waiting. I was reminded recently of a quote from Rumi, “Patience is not sitting and waiting. It is foreseeing. It is looking at the thorn and seeing the rose.” That’s what Advent is all about.

Prayer:  Patient God, send me spiritual friends that can help me to see my world with Advent eyes – to recognize the thorns, but to know that they are a sign of a rose soon to bloom. Amen.