An Extended Advent

It's Christmas now, but I feel stuck

Dear Readers,

I’m sending this to you on the Sixth Day of Christmas, but my life remains in Advent: that is, a season of waiting. In the Irreverent Prayers book Samantha Vincent-Alexander and I are writing we have a section entitled “Waiting, Wandering, and Wondering.” We agreed when discussing how to structure the book that in our joint experiences of life-threatening illnesses, the times of uncertainty were excruciating. And now I find myself in that period again.

In the second week of Advent a PET scan showed new nodules in what remains of my left lung lighting up, meaning (based on my history) they are almost certainly a cancer recurrence. My doctors are ordering more and more tests before solidifying a course of treatment, so I’m back in a time of waiting and testing, waiting and waiting and waiting. Everything takes longer because of the holidays with so many people having time off.

Three years ago, I learned about my first cancer during the season of Christmas—if you missed an essay I wrote about that, you can find it here. This time, despite the uncertainty, Gary and I are doing our best to enjoy the time of year: time off, slower pace, fattening foods (he gets more alarmed by these than I do), reading, and best of all, time together. We’re trying to put our energy into living in the moment before we find out what’s next and what 2023 will look like. And on a positive note, I’m finding myself writing prayers for Irreverent Prayers from first-hand experience instead of recollection.

Regardless of what happens treatment-wise, my FIRST BOOK, Unexpected Abundance, is coming out in August 2023, and I am beyond thrilled about finally achieving this dream I’ve had since childhood! At the end of next month or in early February I should have a “cover reveal” as well as a preorder link, which I will then blast on all my social media channels and annoy everyone.

Before then, in Epiphany, I will be sending out emails for six weeks in Epiphany as part of the Good Book Club with Forward Movement, reading the biblical books of Ruth and Esther, two of my absolute favorites. I’m still pinching myself that I got to work on these, given how much I love both books as well as the Good Book Club, which has been such a special part of my ministry at St. David’s. You can sign up for the emails here, and the free study guides that I wrote are available for download here.

How did you celebrate Advent, and how has Christmas been for you so far? Are you waiting for anything even though the liturgical season of Advent is over? I’d love to hear more in the comments.

Wishing you a fabulous 2023!

Blessings,

Elizabeth

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What I’m Writing:

This piece came out in the Christian Century January issue and posted online last month. It describes an incarcerated member of St. David’s who pursued ordination as an Episcopal priest.

My Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sermons haven’t posted yet on the St. David’s website since the office is closed this week, but that feels meet and right to me since I feel stuck in Advent! So here’s my Advent series (I was in Phoenix for the first Sunday in Advent):

Advent 2

Advent 3 (John the Baptist!!)

Advent 4

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What I’m Reading:

I’ve found it hard to concentrate the past month, so my list is light this time:

Our Missing Hearts: Dystopian with books and a poet. What’s not to love?

Sometimes People Die: A thriller set in a British hospital: perfect for my state of mind right now.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol: My friend Shea told me about this one as we walked around the Lewis Ginter gardens on December 23, and it seemed light and seasonal.

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Other Stuff:

Jon Mathieu and I had a conversation about my piece in the Century here.