Written by Tracy Busse

In contemplative silence with another, I found my heart beating wildly with love for God. It was as if the Holy Spirit had taken my heart for a raucous dance, leaving me breathless with delight. What a wonder it is to be loved.

The past few months have felt wild in a circumstantial way, with so many changes and movements around me. It has been a season of discernment and sweet gifts from God—a time of transition where I’ve both celebrated and grieved the seasons that have passed. It’s also a time when I long for what’s ahead. I pray for God’s grace to help me be fully present to the in-between, to slow down before rushing to the next thing. And in that slow-down, I find God’s wild love for me—and for you.

As Advent wraps up this week and we prepare for Christmas, I find myself not quite ready to leave the quiet spaces of Advent. Every year, I grow an Amaryllis, hoping it will bloom by Christmas. This year, though, the plant seems to reflect my desire to linger in Advent a little longer. I’m not sure when it will bloom, but I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it does.

My Amaryllis came from a local farmer’s market, and the vendor told me it was a unique species from somewhere in South America. It’s exciting to have something in my life that is both familiar and new. Tending to this little plant has been a sweet gift. I communicate with her every day, reassuring her that there’s no rush to bloom. She is just as wondrous in her growth as she will be when she blooms.

In the in-betweens of life, there is a temptation to rush. But the way of Jesus invites me to slow down and savor where I am. This place of presence and waiting is where I encounter God’s wild love. Jesus keeps reminding me that there is nothing more to do. I am invited to rest as God works within me, cultivating growth. We often miss what God is doing during times of transition—and the truth is, we may not need to know what is happening beneath the surface of our lives.

While the Holy Trinity invites me into a raucous dance followed by moments of sweet embrace, I wonder how the Holy One is inviting you to encounter love. You may be in the middle of a season that feels heavy or light, or perhaps you, too, find yourself in the in-betweens. Wherever you are, I invite you to take small moments to encounter God’s love. How does Love desire you? Can you imagine how God wants to be with you today? And when you notice God’s love with you, can you take a few moments to savor what is being offered?