In the same way God delights in plants taking root and sprouting from ashes and stumps, God delights in our repentant, transformative growth, and God holds us through the fire as Mary will soon hold a screaming, wonder-filled Christ-child
We continue our preparations by reflecting, changing, and growing. We look inward and seek the fruitfulness and the fruitlessness. The fruitfulness is gathered in and cherished while the fruitlessness is set ablaze in a love so deep that it cannot be quenched.