by Betty Van Volkenburg, Publisher
The Singles Center; Singles, The Magazine for Today's Single
 and The Singles Courier

In my church, where December 1 marks the beginning of Advent, our color of the season is Purple. The secular colors for this season have traditionally been red and green, but in most Christian churches Purple, or Blue, has been used to signify this season. At a Bible study class last week our Rector casually asked us why we used Purple in Advent. I think he was as surprised as we were when no one could remember why – we were just used to the color being there and had long since forgotten the reason we had learned in our distant youth. We jokingly made a few tentative guesses, like ‘maybe because the wise men wore purple robes’, but when we couldn’t come up with the right answer he assigned us ‘homework’ to find out for next week. But our curiosity wouldn’t wait that long – we looked it up in our official Alter Guild manual and found out Purple was used to signify penitence, at Easter and at Advent. He teased us so much we made a secret pact, which is so secret I can’t even tell you about it, as he may read this column before we carry it out. We’re fortunate that he has a good sense of humor, - and is forgiving.

The colors for the season may vary between believers and non-believers but the season of Advent has a universal feeling of Loving, and Giving. You can feel it in the air as you jostle through crowds trekking from store to store, and hear it on the airways as radio stations dust off the old pop Christmas tunes.

For the first time in several years I get to spend the Advent season at home, instead of on a programming contract in another state and I have been looking forward to participating in many joyful activities at my church, and with my family and friends. My joy is a little bit tempered by the fact that I live in Webster NY, on the edge of town where the west wind billows snow up over my house and deposits it right on my driveway, carefully avoiding too much deposit on the grass on either side of the driveway.

This is also the first year in many years that I have an ‘empty nest’, following my daughter and grandson’s move into their own apartment. I’m left with mixed feelings of jumping for joy at my new freedom and privacy (providing I close the curtains) and still needing a hand or two with things like - snow removal! This morning was one of those mornings when I woke to 4 inches of snow blanketing my car and driveway. Sometimes the only thing you can do, is to get off our butt and get to it, so I did. Then, after I showered and dressed for church, I went outside to find another layer of snow had accumulated. This time a good brooming cleared things enough to get me slipping and sliding down the road to church, which is close enough that I could walk when the weather is good.

Seeing and hearing my grandson singing in the youth choir, and remembering when he was in the junior choir like the little guys today, made my day, and I thank God again for allowing me to be home to be a part of this wonderful season. Even a bad business climate and unemployment has some good in it. Being away too often, I appreciate my family and friends even more when I am home.

When we get too used to every day things, we sometimes forget what they mean to our lives. This season gives us time to focus on what’s really important in life – Loving, and Giving. If you need a manual to look it up – pull out your old photo albums and remember.

Until next time…..

‘with gladness and singleness of heart’

Betty Van Volkenburg