Tracy's Blog

Advent is here!  I decided that this year I am going to spend the Advent Season blogging about expectations.  Since I usually have a lot of them, I thought it would be good to explore what the Bible says about expectations - particularly regarding the advent of Christ. I am anticipating it to be an interesting journey.... yes, I guess I do have some great expectations!  To start let me invite you to reflect on the words of  my most-beloved Advent hyms. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Charles Wesley 1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.   2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hear...

As I look out our sunroom windows, I see fog covering the river.  The temperature is dropping and the weather network says that winter is coming... tonight.  So I settle down in my chair with a cup of chocolate chai.  Ahh..... the warmth of the mug and the silence around, they comfort me. Quickly around me Christmas decorations are coming up.  House upon house have already put their lights up (much too soon in my opinion) so that they can beat the cold weather and the snow.  People are getting ready for the season of "comfort and joy".  Soon we will be seeing cards and wallhangings looking something like this: All this has me thinking... What is comfort?  Why do I long for it?  Where do I look for it? Where does God fit in to all this? I decided to start with the dictionary. From The New Penguin English Dictionary: Comfort is : "consolation or encouragement in time of trouble or worry, or somebody or something that provides this." I foun...

Sometimes when I read the Bible, I find a passage that I don't remember ever reading before, even though I know I have.  That's what happened to me this week.  Here it is:   "But I will sing of your strength;      I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress      and a refuge in the day of my distress.     O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,      for you, O God, are my fortress,      the God who shows me steadfast love." Psalm 59:16-17 (ESV) The phrase " O my Strength " stood out to me.  What does it mean that God is my strength? When I am weak, He is strong. When I cannot stand, He holds me up. When I am in danger, He is my safety. When I have nothing to give, He gives through me. When I want to give up, He sustains me. When I "just can't", He can. God is my Strength, my Fortress and Strong Tower.  He ...

I've been auditing a "Pastoral Theology" course through the Ecclesial University which is a partnership between my parish and Wycliffe College (U of T). This weekend we had a special seminar with a professor from Wycliffe College.  She went around the room asking the students what they hoped to get out of the class on Saturday afternoon.  For me, I said something like, "How do we build our "tolerance" for suffering without become hardhearted or pessimistic?"  As I listened in class, thought about Scripture, and then went to church today, I had an idea: the Saints! Why would I think they are the answer to my question?  Because they have lived it.  They have suffered and persevered.  They have shared in the sufferings of others and continued to have hope in Christ. For me, I need role models.  People who believe in Christ and are able to continue on in the faith after devastating things happen.  People who care deeply about others and are able ...