Advent 12/18/12

And still you are here, despite our sins and our doubts and our failures and our general human ridiculousness. Still you are here, appearing in gentle mercies to the hospitalized and the lonely, coming in simple laughter to the worried and the tired, manifesting in quiet tears to the mourning and the discouraged. Still you are here, drawing us toward you through one another (although we resist stubbornly, violently). Still you are here, steadfast and clear as Venus in the winter sky before dawn. Still you are here, helping us to breathe … and breathe again … and breathe again. Still you are here, despite our best and worst efforts. Still you are here, and we are grateful.