Ruah Bull - Spiritual Director

 God With Us

 Winter lights catch my heart, pull me into sudden stillness and then- who knows how?- tease my toes and  fingers, then hands, feet and body into dancing- however slowly.  Only you, O Christ,  can evoke such wild and wondrous joy!

 Hail the heav'nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

It was a time like this, war and tumult of war, a horror in the air, Hungry yawned the abyss- and yet there came the star and the child most wonderfully there. It was a time like this of fear and lust for power, license and greed and blight- and yet the Prince of Bliss came into the darkest hour in quiet and silent light. And in a time like this how celebrate his birth when all things fall apart? Ah! wonderful it is with no room on the earth the stable is our heart.

 You the one filling this space pressing in so urgently I cannot catch my breath. Waiting is interminable, filled with longing and anguish. You rearrange your presence; I hold pain. The struggle to give you space reveals my smallness. Only yielding to Body/Spirit Breath can carry me now through this portal- my yes to searching for your always new bright eyes in everything I behold.

 Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do  seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness,  yet seeking the light, To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!"

  Deep peace of the running wave to you Deep peace of the flowing air to you Deep peace of the quiet earth to you Deep peace of the shining stars to you Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you

 Come. Come to this Christmas altar. Bring any and all that have or have not been invited. Come and come again.  ... Who is knocking? Anyone you have left out and refused to embrace fully. Saying "Open your heart to me, I am your Christmas gift to yourself." I SEE!! It is Christ being born. Christ is this hand, this body, this Blood. Let that be the gift that keeps giving. The altar keeps growing. Heart opening and embracing, The True gifts of this Christmas that keep giving.

 Silent Night, Holy Night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child  Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born

 This is no time for a child to be born, With the earth betrayed by war & hate And a comet slashing the sky to warn That time runs out & the sun burns late. That was no time for a child to be born, In a land in the crushing grip of Rome; Honour & truth were trampled by scorn- Yet here did the Saviour make his home, When is the time for love to be born? The inn is full on the planet earth, And by a comet the sky is torn- Yet love still takes the risk of birth.

  Come. Come to the Christmas altar. Bring any and all that have or have not been invited. Come and come again. Guilt shows up. Guilt wants to come and be touched by the Light. It has give so many gifts over the years. Meet it with gratitude. Let it be the gift that is seen for all that it has brought to this moment. Any self judgement gets to come also. Grateful that its job has been very useful in bringing consciousness to this point. Let it now come to rest in this Light. May all be invited in and out of the darkness of denial. All showing up at the door. Open it widely. Knocking softly at times, and louder with joy when it enters. Who is knocking? Anyone you have left out and refused to embrace fully. Saying, "Open your heart to me. I am your Christmas gift to yourself." I SEE!! It is Christ being born. Christ is this hand, this body, this Blood. Let that be the gift that keeps on giving. The altar keeps growing. Heart opening and embracing. The True gifts of this Christm...