Here & Now
An invitation to Pause, Encounter, and Grow together.
Thursday, December 7, 2023
Day 5. Haiku.
Poustinia
Recently, Selah Center held a Poustinia to prepare our hearts for entering Advent. Poustinia, a Russian word, means “desert,” a place to meet Christ in silence, solitude and prayer. For Selah’s Poustinia participants were asked to set aside time to be alone in silence, contemplation, and prayer. After some introductory instruction from Selah Companions Zoe Pearson, Monika Kozakowski, and Renata McNeely, participants were dismissed for several hours of silent retreat. Wendy Bryant wrote the following during her poustinia. —Debora Buerk, Editor
Shell
By WENDY BRYANT
Artist
Selah Companion
Exquisite beauty
Spins interior shadows
Into perfect grace
Prayer
May I embrace my “shadows” (harshness, fear, bitterness) and my “softness” (love, compassion and vulnerability) as I carry the essence of my soul (symbolized by this shell) to the manger; laying all of me humbly before Christ, the infant.
Amen.
Author’s Note on Poustinia
Poustinia isn’t a thing but a practice. It’s part of the Christian Orthodox tradition of seeking solitude and fasting in order to remove distractions that prevent us from hearing the Word of God. Just as the desert may appear barren, it’s incredibly fertile. Its silence is an opening, an opportunity.
In Mark 6:13, God calls us to a “deserted place” that is free of distractions so that our relationship God can grow as we hear God speaking directly to our heart.
(Source: Odom, Matt, The History and Practice of Poustinia, wanderercatholic.com)
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
T
Hosea 6:1-6
T
1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
T
What is a Lectionary?
Part One
By now, I hope you’ve noticed that we post some Scripture for you to read and reflect on each day. So, where do these Scriptures come from? I’m glad you asked. They come from the Revised Common Lectionary.
A lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian and Jewish worship on a given day or occasion. Following the Church calendar during the season of Advent, we’re listing the scripture assigned each day of Advent. (en.wikipedia.com)
Sharing the same scripture through Advent, we knit our community in ways that unite us through God’s word.
You may respond to these scriptures through spiritual practices such as Lectio Divina, the Examen, and Gratitude. Other ways might be through journaling, writing reflections, and artistic expression. I’ll tell you more tomorrow.
—Debora Buerk, Editor, Here & Now
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!