Advent, properly observed, is a season of hope. We have not yet reached what we are waiting for. It is not already Christmas (contrary to what the world around us seems to say so prominently).

In thinking about this, St. Paul’s words to the Philippians came to mind:

It is not that I have already taken hold of [the resurrection] or have already attained perfect maturity,* but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.

Today, on an afternoon in late Advent, I finally got around to getting some things taken care of; they had been on hold since I got back Sunday evening from a weekend retreat; I was needed to help fill in some extra hours at work these last days.

One of these ‘loose ends’ was getting my cherry pits planted. I had soaked, cleaned, and refrigerated them midsummer for just such a day as this (They needed to go through a stratification process* of several weeks before planting).

*a chilling period, either by refrigeration or burial in the ground before winter

I thought it would be a fun little project for our residents to watch them grow.

I had been thinking of planting them for a little while now but lacked the little bit of potting soil required.

When I was in Hankinson, helping with the above-mentioned retreat, I was able to get some soil from one of our Sisters who does garden work.

Now, my little cherry pits are snugly tucked in their bed in hopes that one day they will peek their heads out and say: “We’re alive; we’re growing!”

At Advent, Christmas, and throughout the year, we can be people of hope, realizing that, with God’s help, we, too, are alive and growing.