For several years I have been attending a tai chi class at the gym. I will never master the smooth moves or all the forms. I only know it is good to be there. Although a martial art, tai chi claims that brute force without spiritual energy (chi) is incomplete. In going through the forms and exercises, we "gather the chi". A beautiful thought! For me, this is a gathering in of the Spirit with the movement of my body. For me, this becomes prayer. Although not the intention of the exercise, this is what I bring to it.

A reading was set before us a few weeks ago: "…for your imperishable spirit is in all things". (Wis. 12:1) The passage caught hold of me and remained in my thoughts. To my way of thinking, this "imperishable spirit" is like the "chi" that I seek to gather up, to become aware of, and to fill myself with during the course of my exercise and throughout the day. This brings harmony, wholeness and order to life. If I gather it up and become aware of this mystery within me, do I not also have to nourish it and be aware of its creative power within, to be willing to let it shape me?

We may also speak of this "imperishable spirit" as the "life breath" that God breathes into the clay at creation and the image of God that each human person bears. This "imperishable spirit" is what makes us children of God, a reflection of the God who shares his own life with us. How many ways we find the biblical text reminding us of the God who dwells within each of us! How essential is faith to our being able to have eyes to "see" this! I do not know how many in my tai chi class think as I do. Perhaps they are seeking the same thing that I am - some awareness of the mysterious life force that is able to bring this peace and wholeness. How important to name this God!

The brief quote: "…for your imperishable spirit is in all things" is taken from the Wisdom of Solomon. This book is a gem! At the ending of the year and looking toward the new, I always find dwelling on "Wisdom" to be fruitful. I might suggest that you return to this book for some Advent reading. Wisdom takes on several nuances of meaning:

1) It can mean a simple grasp of knowledge (see Wis. 7:13-22).

2) It can also pertain to living in right relationship with God, making right choices in life. (See Wis. 6:1-21 and 8:1-16)

3) Finally, Wisdom (Primordial Wisdom) becomes an extension of God's very self. (See Wis. 7:22-30).

The dwelling of God within us, each one of us, is an awesome thought to ponder! In the tai chi class, we speak not only of "gathering in the chi" but also of ridding ourselves of the "stale chi". We need to be renewed daily with the fresh breath that comes through prayer and reading and quiet! Are we as conscious of our need to daily renew our awareness of God who dwells within, working at this as arduously as we work at our physical and material well being? The 2nd aspect of wisdom mentioned above, that shapes our awareness of living in right relationship with God, instructs us daily. We grow in our ability to see things with God's eyes: the eyes of faith that perceive the mystery that surrounds us and that lends balance and harmony to all that we think and do and say. In turn, the 3rd aspect of Wisdom, an insight into the being of God, will gradually and imperceptibly dawn on us through grace.

In the Prologue of the Gospel of John, the author of this Gospel speaks of Jesus, the Word, the expression of God, as having come from God to earth. Here we consider the 3rd meaning of Wisdom, Primordial Wisdom, as an aspect of God. In the Wisdom writings of the Old Testament, this is Wisdom's role. Proverbs (Ch 8) personifies wisdom and imagines Wisdom as coming from the mouth of God (a word!) and being sent to earth. Sirach Ch 24 says a similar thing. Wisdom is a way God has of communicating with us the mysteries that lie hidden, the thoughts of God. The lingering darkness of these days of December are good days for pondering such things that we can never really know with certainty. Such thoughts claim our attention because there is that imperishable spirit within each one, that energy, that indwelling presence, that spark that is God's life that we are responsible to tend but that belongs to God and will return to God. Such mystery resonates within us because this is essential to our very being! Perhaps we have silenced it or cover it over, but nonetheless, it is there!

The Wisdom of Solomon is a book, likely the latest of the Old Testament books written, that begins to draw to an end the long night of death that casts a shadow over the entire Old Testament. The thought of death was not a positive concept at that time. In the 1st chapter, a way of thinking begins to make the possibility of immortality conceivable. Chapter 1 begins "Love justice". The chapter ends with the words: "Justice is undying". 'Justice' here is not simply "equality" or "giving each person what is their due" as we might think. Justice, in the biblical tradition, is understood as the essential covenant quality of God. God is just when God is faithful to his promises made to Israel. This, then, is what is undying! Behind the words of Ch 1, is the idea that we are a reflection of God especially when WE mirror or image God's justice and faithfulness and loyalty in the way we live. THIS is what is undying! This thought allows ancient Israel to step out of their belief that death brought nothing hopeful at all. The end was the end of anything meaningful! But now, there is something within that is immortal, something to be cherished and nurtured. That 'something' is this imperishable spirit, this image of God, the breath of God that lives within us. Such thoughts ennoble us! They should make us grateful for the gifts God has given to be used for the good of others. Above all, such thoughts should invite us to seek to nourish this "imperishable spirit" within ourselves. This is undying!

During Advent, as we reflect on God's coming to us in the past, the present and in the future, may you find in the word of God much to deepen your understanding of the Christmas mysteries. This comes only with some effort on our part! The readings leading up to Christmas recall all the hopes Israel held onto during all the changes and reversals of their history. These hopes find complete expression in Jesus. May hope be the gift that settles in your heart this Advent/Christmas; a gift you will live and give to others. Hope flows from knowing that "…your imperishable spirit is in all things" and is drawing us imperceptibly and in unimaginable ways toward God.