Several years ago Linda Ellerbee had a television show called "And So It Goes". As I recall during the show she explored some news item, some situation that needed further explanation. During the half hour she would state the premise, reflection upon it, unravel its mysteries, try to answer questions and finally end with this statement. Each week the show played out in the same way.

This week the phrase has come to mind several times.Last Sunday was what we have named in the church calendar, ‘Reign of Christ" Sunday which is the last Sunday of the church year. This coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new year. On Reign of Christ Sunday we celebrate the ways in which we have seen and known the presence of God moving, having flesh and blood,walking with us in our daily lives.

The flow of these days took on special meaning for me this year. Last year during Advent I began writing  daily reflections on the theme of Holy Mystery. After Advent as we moved into Christmas and then on into January, I continued with ‘Pause’, my five times a week(mostly) reflections.This week I realized that as we approached Reign of Christ Sunday that this entire year had provided me with the opportunity and practice of looking for and being present to God’s movement in the ordinary of my life and what was happening in the world. I realized that over this past year I have tried, with what I hope is some humility, to look at the world with eyes that search out the Sacred. Most often what has happened is that the Sacred has searched me out.

I have known for some time that there is a great gift in observing the seasons of the church year: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Pentecost….and my personal favorite, Ordinary Time. This year as I have taken the daily time to reflect and write I have received a gift beyond my imagination. I have received the deep knowing that this Christ presence, this Great Movement of God, whose in-breaking we are preparing to celebrate is my daily companion.

As we enter this season of Advent, I invite you to a time of dreaming and visions. As the darkness offers its quiet, reflective ways to us, may we be reminded of the prayer of our Celtic friends: Christ above us, Christ below, Christ to our left and to our right, Christ in our waking and in our laying down, Christ in our dreaming and in our sleeping, Christ in our life and at our death. Christ to companion us today, tomorrow and always.

And so it goes……………………