Fresh

This picture came back to me. My dear sister gave me a copy of it for Christmas. It was taken on my 29th birthday and there was a freshness, a newness- my hair was recently cut short, we were visiting the Carmelite house in Napa and it was so spiritually enriching to see. There was a freshness with the beginning of summer after a hard and long spring semester at work and finishing up my first semester in grad school. The greenery and warm heat brought about the freshness of summer. The anticipation of a brand-new age, and year.

Two days prior, I had decided to get a haircut literally, since I would be donating it. I thought it would be significant to do so on the feast day of St. John the Baptist. And now, with the feast of Christ's birth almost upon us, St. John the Baptist is also a significant figure- the first person to meet Jesus (while also still in the womb) and jumps for joy in Elizabeth's womb. 

With the shorter days of the year already here, we prepare and celebrate Christ's birth filled with hope, light and joy for his coming. St. John the Baptist's birthday in June is filled with the longest days of the year.

I love the background of this photo as well. It is Jesus with his sacred heart, and I can't help but see him on the water, just like the Gospels of him walking on water. Having this vision really helped me and put all things into his hands and helped me embrace all things in a spiritual manner. 

29 wasn't easy at all, and that's why in some ways it's not filled with joy necessarily that I look at this photo, but I see and remember the hardships and growing pains, and growth. But I also see my sister right next to me. And see Christ behind us, near us, guiding us as well. 

This photo was on New Year's Day 2017 in Santa Barbara while on our special and memorable road trip. This is one of my favorite missions, it is so beautiful! Christ is behind us (in the Eucharist, inside the church) and here we are as soul sisters and dear friends. 

It has some parallels. There was also a freshness, a newness- with the new year and new possibilities. It was a rather difficult and depressing at times Fall semester, so going away and being on break far away from school was a radical, amazing inspiration that I desperately needed and craved, and my sister did as well. 

The freshness also comes with the Christmas wreaths- a symbol of God's love always present and fresh, hence the green for life and freshness and circles in that it never ends.