St. Jamesʻ Sunday 12-7-25

St. James' Sunday 12-7-25

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The jungle-looking forest was quiet except for the music of the birds and the trees having their own conversations high above me. My eyes fell on the moss that blanketed the roots of ancient trees, giving them shapes that tickled my imagination. One looked amazingly like a sloth smiling that sweet sloth smile. I stared at the image, and my eyes were awakened to the moss that was alive with all kinds of tiny living creatures that made their home in this sanctuary of silence, this Garden of Eden. Listening to the delicate crunching of my own footfalls I was drawn to the footfalls that God would have made in the Garden of Eden so long ago. The same God that wanted to sit quietly with me in the coolness of this sacred place. The same God who was calling my name in the quietness to release the burdens of this world to be still and know the God of the Universe is beside me, loving me, and walking with me.

This Advent experience, with members of St. Columba's congregation this past Tuesday at ‘This Holy Ground Sanctuary’ in Volcano Village, was an experience of the Holy, the Sacred, and the ordinary.

We do not need a great choir of Angels, or a miracle of water into wine, to witness the immensity and the holiness of our God. We need to be awake to the ordinary. The day-to-day happenings that wander into our days. The small kine things that one could pass by if one was not awake to the ordinary. God is massive, God is tiny, God is eternal, God is timely, God is everywhere, and God is in us. There is no place where we can go that God isn’t. (Psalm 139)

This Advent give yourself the gift of the ordinary. A gift to be still, to listen, to release burdens. Invite God, the Universe God, the Eternal God, the Massive God, and the Ordinary God to walk beside you, sit with you and just talk story! Ah, there is much to be awake for in the Ordinary!

May you be blessed this Advent in the realization that God loves you just as you are.

Linda +

A special mahalo to Laura and Bruce Gilmore for welcoming us so warmly to their beautiful retreat center and home. Laura and Bruce are part of our parish 'ohana. They discovered us during the pandemic and join us online. More information below about their retreat center and our incredible visit.