Advent Reflections, #8: The What of Advent--Reflection

Ever since I started this doctoral program I am in, I have been surrounded by “reflection,” “reflexivity,” and “reflective practice.”  Reflection is our gift, our duty, our (intellectual) salvation, our need.  Reflection can be transformative, but it requires (1) a openness to change, (2) deep personal self-honesty and (3) time.

Luke tells us that Mary pondered.  The dictionary defines “ponder” as “to weigh carefully in the mind; consider thoughtfully: He pondered his next words thoroughly” and “to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate (often followed by over  or upon.”

That is the most well known incident of the word “ponder” in the Bible, but the words “consider” and “meditate” are more prevalent.

In my dissertation research I am asking my colleagues is they practice reflection.  I get interesting responses.  The main one I am getting is that “we need more time” to reflect. 

Perhaps we should make time to reflect?  Maybe we don’t realize how distracted we are?  Maybe we are just saying it’s not a priority, just a nice thing to do, because we don’t make the time (as we do with prayer). 

Our culture prizes glibness, talkiness, noise so much that sometimes I feel that not speaking, being quiet is wasting time.  Where do we get these ideas?

Advent of all times means reflection, quiet contemplation of what the birth means, if it means more than we have taken it to mean (question our assumptions!), and holding back from jumping to action and doing.