Being hospitable to new life is wondrous AND uncomfortable. I learned this truth quite personally when carrying three new souls in my body and birthing each into life. Each pregnancy was an awe-struck awareness that a new Being would come into the world through me, as well as the disconcerting and uncomfortable experiences of morning sickness, ridiculous fatigue, swollen feet and a body stretching and expanding in unbelievable increment as the life within me grew larger and my internal organs were pushed and moved out of the normal places. The delight of carrying new life was sometimes in serious conflict with the vessel used for it's sustenance and growth.
A spiritual experience of carrying new life is very similar to the experiences of pregnancy: there are times of astonishing wonder as well as periodically feeling terribly uncomfortable and a bit scared of what is happening. The initial delight of discovering that 'God has found favor with you' and granted a glimpse of new life will also cause serious conflict with your older and more familiar ways of living. Balancing delight and conflict - and there is nothing quite like new life and love to make both of those equally real - means discovering ways of sustaining and nurturing the gift we have been given.
When I was pregnant I discovered the sustaining act of deliberately finding times of being present only to the new life growing within me. Sitting or lying very still I would bring my awareness to the life rolling around in my belly: I would feel the kicks and soft swimming motion of the baby. As I focused on the movements of this life, the wonder and mystery of this astonishing gift within me would fill my consciousness and the discomfort and fears of what was happening in other aspects of my living would fade into the background.
Taking time out of the busyness of ordinary living in order to be present to God is an ancient spiritual practice for it is within quiet and stillness that we are most likely to become aware of the small flutters of the Spirit of God's love.
Love is a gift that asks for response as our response indicates we have received what has been given. Meister Eckhart, a mystic who lived in the 14th century summed up very simply how essential our response to accepting this gift of life is: "if the only prayer you ever pray is 'thank you', that is enough."
Our spiritual journey of Advent includes the wreath with candles and the intention to set aside a bit of time each day to remind ourselves that God is not only present to all of life, God is present to me personally. The act of lighting the candles (2 this week) and sitting quietly watching the flames flicker and glow is a way to affirm that God's love is indeed real and alive. "Thank you" is a simple and concrete way of affirming this blessing.
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