The definition of hope is “to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true.” When I think of the word hope during the Advent season, I think of the excitement and anticipation that we, as Christians, are invited into as we prepare our minds and hearts for the coming of Christ.
This Advent season, I find myself wondering what I could do to be more mindfully present in that Hope. As a licensed clinical social worker working in the elementary school setting, one thing I teach many of my students is the practice of “grounding.” Grounding techniques are meant to help you refocus on the present moment and to distract yourself from anxious thoughts and feelings you may be experiencing. So how can we be more spiritually grounded in hope during this season? This week, I would both encourage and challenge you to ground yourself in hope by practicing this sensory grounding activity, which I have slightly altered for this Advent season.
Practice: In stillness, light a candle, look at Christmas lights, or watch the sunrise. Spend several minutes intentionally letting your eyes rest on the glowing light.
Prompt: What does this light remind you of? Where have you seen light show up unexpectedly recently? What does “waiting with light” look like in your life right now? What hope is growing in you?
Prayer:
God of Light,
In this season of waiting, we lean into the quiet promise of hope. Like candles flickering in the dark, may our hearts be kindled with trust; not in what we see, but in what is coming. Let hope rise in us like morning sun―soft, steady, and sure. May it guide our steps, shape our words, and hold space for hope yet to bloom. Amen.
Tyler Swim and his wife, McKenzie Cantrell, will have been married for one year as of December 8. Tyler has been a member at Highland for 38 years.