It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to man, and man to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell.
If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for “God is Charity” (1 John 4:8)
St Albert the Great
The same tree, seen at three different times of day. The first two images were taken within minutes of one another as it was late afternoon and the sun was setting— yet still battled to shine through the cloud coverage of the day.
The last image was taken this morning after a heavy fog had rolled in during the night–obscuring vision, muting colors and dimming the morning light.
French Impressionist Claude Monet’s famous paintings of the haystacks at Giverny, as well as his paintings of the Rouen Cathedral, are all studies of how the lighting of the day, as well as the time of the year, can and will affect an image or landscape.
Once again, it is all in how one views something–be it an object, person or place, which often effects how the image (person, place or object) is then treated or regarded by the viewer. A pig wearing lipstick is still a pig, but give that pig the right lipstick and lightening, then you’ve got a swine who simply outshines all the others.
As we transition to Advent, I want to continue with the theme of our not only waiting and watching, but I wish to concentrate on that of our giving and of our thankfulness. As St. Albert the Great reminds us— one must possess charity of heart in order to not only tend to, nurture, bless, and to be present for others– but one must possess such in order to be full of the living God.
If the living God does not reside in our hearts, then the possibility of our spiritual giving to and of our providing for others will never be permissible. The depth available will never be reached, let along touched. Without the living God residing in our hearts we will never grow into the potential of our being. Not only will we be cheating ourselves, we will be cheating the very individuals who need for us to be full of that Holy wealth of Life.
May we enter into this holy time of waiting and watching. . . being ever receptive to our need of being filled with the life and breath of the only true Living God. May we be humble in our receiving of the very Light that shines not only on us this day, but which shined so very brightly on that single night so long ago when the world would no longer to be the same.
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