Gaudete!

Today is Gaudete Sunday-- rejoice! This is a beautiful celebration in most of the Western Christian churches: including the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Churches and many of the mainline Protestant churches. We get a little break in the penitential course of Advent, and the candle that is lit on the Advent Wreath is pink.

Ok, that's all the outward signs. But I think the day also asks us to consider what we have to rejoice about. Truth be told, there's so much ugliness and strife in the news, it is often really hard to find a happy moment some days, at least on the national and global scale. Even joyful events have their detractors-- case in point, the negotiated release/ "swap" of Britney Griner for a notorious arms dealer. People just don't want to be happy for her and her family, it seems; yes, a former Marine is still in Russia, but the accusations made against him are much different than less than half a gram of hash oil. There's a lot of political theatre going on, to be sure, and human lives are manipulated like so many sad puppets. But she's home --rejoice! 

On a more personal level, it's also hard to find things to rejoice about sometimes. We tend to grumble our way through chores, the weather, the general slog of every day at work. I think we are attracted to negative things; there is an addictive drama to it all, one we can recite at the end of the day, to lay our complaints out next to someone else's and find some sort of award for having struggled the most. I think this is dangerous; I do it myself too often, and it's something I need to consider on deeply as we move into the rest of Advent and into the depths of winter. I used to engage in a practice of finding "five good things!" to counteract my negative cycle when I got into that grumble-rut. I will do it again.

OK:

1. I have sourdough starter already fed and ready to go today for fresh bread.

2. My house is warm enough.

3. I have a turkey soup to make.

4. It is not snowing or raining, so the trip to church will be safe and easy.

5. I have a loving family that I should be showing a lot more outward signs of love to.

So, REJOICE! ("Gaudete," as presented by Anuna.)

Have a good day,

C