Advent – Week 2

Preparation – The Second Purple Candle

 December 6, 2020

© 2020. Lynda McKinney Lambert. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

Our Advent journey began when we lit the Candle of Hope on the first Sunday of Advent.  Today, we continue on our pilgrimage. We began in one place – HOPE – and we continue now towards  the PREPARATION of our pilgrimage.

GET READY –

The second Advent candle shifts our focus to think about making preparations for a future event. In my studies and experiences, I’ve learned that God always provides a sign for every promise to humanity. The sign will point to an actual event that will take place in the future. This was true over 2 thousand years ago in Bethlehem, and it is true today in 2020.

Sometimes the sign comes in a dream.

Other times it comes through reading God’s Word in the Bible.

It can even come through other people, and in conversations with them.

But a sign always appears at the appropriate time in advance of something eventful that God is going to do. We are never left to wander about in confusion.

 

As I light the second candle, I ask two questions about the promise God made to send a savior into the world.

First, how and why did God prepare to send a savior into the world?

Second, how did God keep his promise of a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem?

 

Before a sign can be realized, careful preparations must be laid out in advance. We can find the announcement of what God had in mind long before the actual birth of Christ. It is all laid out in the Old Testament writings – the historical context for what was to come in the future.

 

“As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah, the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’ (Luke 3:4-6)

As a vital part of keeping the promise, preparations were made by God in advance.

Next Sunday, I’ll talk about how Three kings were summoned to take a very long  journey that would end up at the home of Mary and Joseph,  where they would see the promised child.  We will see how God summoned them and guided them to the exact place where they would find the child. God is always exact and always right on time!

The royal  trio prepared for their journey by selecting precious, costly gifts to give to this child-king. Once the gifts were ready, the kings began the journey and traveled at night by following a brilliant star.  The traveling kings used the best GPS system – the stars in the heavens! Read Genesis 1:14 and you will see God’s purpose in creating the heavenlies.

 

Sometimes, I take journeys all night long in my dream time.

Do you dream a lot, too?

It is common for me to get an inspiration for a poem, or a topic to write about. I even received information on something I should change in a poem, and it’s typical for me to get up and come downstairs to my office to make the changes while they are still in my mind.

Waiting until morning is not a good idea – usually, the opportunity has vanished, and I cannot remember what I saw in the dream.

 

I’ve had dreams when I was shown how to do a new technique I had never seen before.

Often, I am given exciting ideas for a work of art or something I would write about. At times, I see me from a vantage point above and apart from my physical self.

In particularly joyous dreamscapes, I am flying with abandon high above the earth. It seems at those times that flying is my usual self like I was made to fly!

The Road Less Traveled

by M. Scott Peck, MD.

I’ve read this book numerous times. I learn something new every time.

Dr. Peck wrote of such dreams and dream-instructions that originate from deep within our subconscious mind. The innermost part of our mind, he contends, is over 90 percent of our brain. That leaves only 10 percent of our brain for the conscious level that we use and are aware of continuously.

 

As I read Dr. Peck’s book, I have a hunch that it was through the subconscious and that the three kings were inspired to start out on this most unique journey, like nothing else they ever experience. Were they shown images of what they would discover when they arrived? I think maybe so! They definitely had divine guidance and perfect timing. Earth the Three KINGS had no “Plan B” – no “back-up plan.” They were on a mission, and it was “Plan A” all the way!

 

Preparation means to “get ready.”

My background is in Fine Arts and English Literature. I was aware of the path I intended to travel for my entire life. For this reason, I selected courses that would take me to my goals, and combined them with courses across all disciplines in the arts and sciences of several universities. I knew I had to prepare for where I wanted to be later in my life. I created a PLAN of how I could achieve my end goal. I knew I wanted to be a Professor and it  required me to obtain a terminal degree in my field.  I set to work on my plan and over 12 years of full-time university studies  in the US, Austria, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, and Canada.  This was a – full-time,  pursuit of studies as I earned the 3 degrees that I needed to get the desired position in my field. I was in it to win it!  I worked relentlessly at my studies, and at my teaching schedule.  A DREAM is worth giving all you have and MORE to achieve.  I kept my ultimate goal before me at all times.

The most essential part of planning is that we pray about it. Prayer is the first step in preparation for the future.

I spoke of my deepest dreams to God. I know he listens to all of our silent prayers when we reach out in trust and ask him for guidance. After that, we get to work, and we prepare to go forward in pursuit of the dream. I never intended to take any other path outside of the humanities.

When I look back, I see that I never had a “Plan B.” I knew where I came from and where I intended to go in the future. God takes our passions and our desires and prepares us to live a life that is in his plan for us.

 

Far away from Bethlehem, on an island in the Atlantic Ocean, Christians celebrate Christmas and Epiphany in Puerto Rico. They commemorate the ancient journey to Bethlehem. One of the most exciting courses I had the privilege of teaching at Geneva College in Pennsylvania, was a team-taught course. This travel/study course focused on Puerto Rican culture. Our teaching team consisted of a variety of colleagues from numerous disciplines in Humanities and the sciences. We offered the course every spring semester. As part of that course, students traveled with us to Puerto Rico. Once we arrived, we spent ten days working in various cities and locations on the island.

 

One of the Puerto Rican traditions that thrilled me is the making of SANTOS by Puerto Rican artisans. I came home every year with some new ones I purchased on the trip. And, one of the themes that is very popular for SANTOS is the THREE KINGS. I bought the SANTOS in local stores and in museum gift shops on the islands, and they have a prominent place in my home. Each is signed by the artist who made it.

 

This week I thought about

the PREPARATION

necessary to create an art work.

 

What form will it be – sculpture?

Painting? Printmaking: Pottery?  Fiber Art? Photography?

What kind of materials to use?

Canvas? Printmakers  Ink?  Oil Paints? Wood?

Clay?  Wool?  Stone?  Paper? Beads?  Digital Media?

and more…

What colors will be best to create a mood?

What utensils will do the best effect?

What size should it be?

 

Preparations lead the way to what will become a work of art.

The artist begins the journey after the plans are set for the artwork.

 

I wonder how the THREE KINGS felt as they completed a long and adventurous  trip  as they followed the brilliant star in the sky.   It is believe that they most likely came from Persia – a very long trip.

 

Did you KNOW?

The 3 KINGS did not arrive in Bethlehem  at the manger on the night the Messiah was born?

Their journey took them much longer to get there because they traveled from a long distance and even had an encounter with the emperor who questioned them about where they came from and what they were seeking.  This encounter would have serious consequences for the holy family in the future.

It is not factual to portray the 3 Kings at the manger, along with the Shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth.

I know that it is a common error to have the Wise Men at the stable. The shepherds arrived at the stable in Luke on Christmas Eve.

In Matthew 2:11, on Epiphany, the three kings come to the house of Jesus to worship the Christ Child.

I believe it is important to acknowledge that these two events book-end the Twelve Days of Christmas and are not simultaneous.

~Rev. Peter Heide

 

 

“Walk beside us, Our Father, and leave us not alone, neither through our strengths nor our weaknesses, but yield to us what we need in order that we might be that which is Thy dream for us.”

Howard Thurman

 

 

This song celebrates Preparation and Hope – the two first Advent candles.

 

Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xtpJ4Q_Q-444 

and MORE…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO7ySn-Swwc

This link will take you to a performance of the same Christmas Carol, and there are images of Medieval stained-glass windows. If you read  “The Candle of Hope” for week 1, you will recall the importance of the image of a ROSE  in Christianity.

Watch this video and see many ways a ROSE  is  depicted.

ROSES  appear in the hair and halo of women; in bouquets; and clothing ornaments in the colorful mosaic pictures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q6iesplJRM

Please enjoy your own anticipated arrivals this Christmas.

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This feature is brought to you through the courtesy of Pennsylvania author, Lynda McKinney Lambert. Please share with friends and always respect my copyright.

BONUS THOUGHTS:

https://www.lyndalambert.com/preparation-the-second-purple-candle/

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The final thing I want to share with you today is  music that celebrates the Preparation and Hope of the two Advent candles we have lit. You can continue, below, and find some links to music and art.

Light  the 2nd candle and think about the meaning of it this week.

Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xtpJ4Q_Q-444

This link will take you to a performance of the same Christmas Carol and there are images of Medieval stained glass windows. Be sure to watch the images with the music and you will see many ways a rose has been depicted in them. We discovered the meaing of the Rose in my previous essay for the Fist Week of Advent – symbolic of Hope.

Roses appear  in the hair and halo of women;  in bouquets; and clothing ornaments  in the colorful mosaic  pictures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q6iesplJRM

You may love to visit another blog and see more about Puerto Rico and how Christmas is celebrated on that island. If so, you can visit, “Day by Day with Maria.”  It’s  a blog by  María de Lourdes Ruiz Scaperlanda

http://daybydaywithmaria.blogspot.com/2013/01/los-tres-santos-reyes.html

On January 6, in Puerto Rico, the Christians will celebrate the arrival of the THREE KINGS who reached their travel’s end in Bethlehem.

Here is a song of celebration that the Christians in Puerto Rico sing on January 6^th–

http://daybydaywithmaria.blogspot.com/2013/01/los-tres-santos-reyes.html

 

Read each Advent article. Use se the links below:

 

Week 1 – The First Purple Candle – The Candle of HOPE – Here.

Week 2 – The Second Purple Candle – The 3 Kings Candle – Preparation – Here.

Week 3 – The Third Purple Candle – The Shepherds Candle – JOY – Here.

Week 4 – The Pink Candle – Angel Candle – Here!

Christmas Day – The White Candle – Jesus Candle – Here.

Christmastide – The 12 Days of Christmas Here.

 

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Lynda’s Themes:

Creation ~ Nature

Landscape ~ Pilgrimage

History  ~  Reflection

© 2020. Lynda McKinney Lambert. All rights reserved.