Seeker

On the 14th day of Advent today's Advent Word is 'gather'. Gather always sounds to me like a strangely old fashioned word, but rich in meaning. It can be used in so many different contexts: to gather people together, to gather things that are separated, to gather crumbs under a table. This image of part of a bronze statue of a shepherd in Cumbria, England, show him holding a lamb. I love the detail, the purposefulness of his walk and the way he is looking up, his attention focused. This image reminds me of words from Isaiah's vision of God comforting his people: "He will feed his flock like a shepherd;   he will gather the lambs in his arms,   and carry them in his bosom,   and gently lead the mother sheep." Isaiah 40: 11 NRSV Image Credit: Des Colhoun on Geograph, Creative Commons License

What do you think of when you hear the word 'gather'? Yesterday I spilled a container of cashew nuts over other stuff in the kitchen. It took a while to gather up what had been scattered. The nuts of course were powerless to get themselves back where they belonged. People on the other hand...(complete this sentence how you will.) Christians regularly gather for worship, in the open air, in churches, homes and many places, including on-line. We belong in relationship with others and with God. 'Gather' is the Advent Word for today in the online global advent calendar that I am following. You can follow Advent Word on Twitter  @adventword  or sign up at Advent Word to receive a daily email during advent with the image and very short meditation. Today's image shows people gathered for worship. The accompanying meditation from Advent Word gives a reason for such gathering: "We gather together because when “two or three are gathere...