A few years ago, I switched from buying rolls of wrapping paper to collecting scraps of fabric to use to wrap presents and so these are the fragments that surround me at this time of year. Most of them came from the bargain bin at Joann’s Fabrics back when I lived close to one of their stores but a few of them carry the memory of projects that I never completed and the one I did.
Before our children were born, I pieced together these stockings that hang by our makeshift hearth. I made four when I was only pregnant with one knowing very well that there would be a second child though everyone imagined this was some sort of strange birth announcement. This is how we live in hope sometimes.
Here are some things that still feel unfinished this month and a few things I’m wondering if I’ll pick up in the new year.
I’ve been devoting more time to reading other Substacks and been delighted to find a circle of spiritual directors sharing their hearts here on this platform. This connecting allowed me to find this wonderful poem shared by Christine Davies. The whole reflection is lovely but it’s the poem I saved and has gotten me thinking again about what I want to be held in that dash.
In response to one of those wonderings on hope earlier this month, I set an intention to actually journal. My own spiritual director is always encouraging me to do this and I even bought a journal earlier this year with that set desire. It has one entry and so as the calendar turns into January I am hoping to journal more.
Though I’ve read a lot of fiction this past year and introduced my children to chapter books at bedtime, I haven’t read anything remotely spiritual until Advent.
After graduating with my certificate in spiritual direction, I aimed to follow the discipline set by my program by reading five books to enrich both my spiritual direction practice and my prayer life. I had thought that I could choose choose these books as interest came to me but it seems I consistently chose a good story over something theological so I’m setting the intention at the end of this year to read these six books already on my shelf mostly because I couldn’t quite narrow the list to just five.
If you’re interested to read along with me, you can find all of these books on Bookshop here. You are also more than welcome to ask me how my reading is going s the next year unfolds!
Scrolling through Facebook, I saw this image of the nativity creche this year at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. There is so much to behold here in what was originally tweeted by the congregation’s pastor.
Last year, I bought this craft kit to make ornaments with my kids and somehow it never happened. It was also the December with all the sickness. Maybe that was why but I pulled it out this year and we spent an afternoon after school making ornaments to share with grandparents.
In the spirit of December Threads, I shared in some of this creativity with my kids by making some of my own creations as you might have already seen on my Instagram. There is something powerful to doing something with our hands and I want to hold onto this especially as it doesn’t feel like I really leaned into this practice as much as I had hoped I might.
What feels unfinished as the year ends? Where are you finding God pick up the pieces? How are you making a way with your own heart and hands? What desires do you have for the future as the calendar turns into January?
If you are interested in spiritual direction and are interested in a first conversation with me, please reach out or go ahead and book an appointment here. I am currently welcoming new directees and would be delighted to explore the holy threads of this life with you.
So happy to connect with you and looking forward to seeing what 2024 has in store for our community. Also adding some of these books to my cart right now!