This third Sunday in Advent, the lesson is called “Path of Love.” Our path through life is filled with moments of love. One can capture his/her memories as one would look at snapshots of photographs. I was actually looking through 8 or 9 years of photos and video clips on my phone, and by the time I was done, I was bursting with love. Most of them are of family, friends, congregants, nature, holidays, and events.
Several clips that made me laugh included one of Linnaea, my youngest granddaughter when she was 18 months old. She is painting on her very first easel, thrilled to see pink paint go from her brush to the paper. Then, quick as a flash, she bends down and paints the floor, and on her way back up she gives the dog, Henry, a pink stripe as well!
Then there was one of Kenna, her 4-year-old sister at the time. She was in her art gallery, which was in fact, the living room. There were rows of strings hanging from the ceiling and draped from one side of the room to the other. Attached on each string were various paintings she had done, suspended just above the furniture. During her art show, standing on the couch and chairs, she took me on a tour explaining her art, “This one is from France, and this one is from Egypt, and that painting is about Africa,” and on it went… That moment takes me on a path through the years with both granddaughters when we did art together and later ending up in a virtual class on Zoom together with a Minnesota art teacher! Who would have ever dreamed?
Another video clip has Kenna playing her harmonica and their dog Freddie is howling along. He did that every single time she played! That took me on a path reflecting on the times they danced together in the living room with their tutus on. Also, there was a memorable ballet experience of Kenna and her dad performing Swan Lake. I was taking the video and could hardly contain myself. Chris and I both doubled over laughing after that amazing rendition. Kenna was just thrilled to dance with her dad and took no notice of the hilarious “flaws!”
Then, suddenly they are older and performing the song “Sisters” for me. I think about that during the stage they are in now of constant bickering. Last time I visited, with puberty upon the oldest, Kenna, she said, “Grandma, one thing you need to know about us is that sometimes we hate each other and sometimes we love each other.” That sounds true for most siblings!
I have countless photos of my grandsons as well, going to pumpkin patches with them, visiting Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm, horseback riding, and playing on the beach. I always love seeing each of my sons with their children. They are both loving dads, and my daughters-in-law are wonderful mothers as well. I have been very blessed in that way.
One’s stage of life may determine the images on our camera and in our imagination. Perhaps ones of past and present loves may be more prominent. The path through one’s love relationships can certainly invoke all kinds of emotion, from love, to sorrow, to laughter and joy.
Whenever I am going through a challenging time, one thing I can do is scan through my photos to smile again. Or I can do that in my mind as well. Each one invokes a memory, and it is so fun to follow the path of the memory and feel the feelings once again. What is so poignantly captured is love. The Spirit of love is present in those experiences.
Just as we might take a photo of a lovely winter day, or Christmas lights at night, that same Spirit can be found in any moment of gratitude, beauty, or joy. It is the love that is always with us; we have only to tap into it and feel its power filling us once again.
