This photo was taken at Loyola House in Guelph while I was on retreat in November.  I can't say how important those eight days were to me in my life journey.  It was a time of intense emotions, prayer and reflection. I truly believe that God led me here to help me at this point of my life.  It was a time that allowed me to work through the many questions I had and to look honestly and prayerfully at what I was living.

There are times in everyone's life that darkness moves in.  It is a time that challenges us in what we know and believe to be true and good.  There is a tendency to believe that the night will always win and the day will be no more.  It is in learning how to trust and walk with faith that will help us n those moments.

I remember the many times i looked into the eyes of godparents and said "Receive the light of Christ on behalf of N. and help them to make a place for this light so that they know that their path is lit by the light of Christ."  Sometimes it is easier to say these these words when they ae meant for someone else.  But tobelieve it for oneself, is not always easy.

This early morning sky a around 7:15am was so breathtaking.  There seemed as if a veil of darkness was being drwn back to make way for the light.  Advent is such a time.  It is a tearing back of the veil of those dark moments to allow the birthing story of Jesus to illuminate our hope.

I have trusted in this Advent light to light my path, to trust in the dawning of the new day I am living. It is a day of hope, a day of trust.  The Advent story brings this new light to our path.  Until next time....

Jeff