The garlands are hung, the mantel is decorated with a Nutcracker theme, the table is laid for our party, the Christmas tree is alight.
“Sempiternity” is that measure (or non-measure) of time: the period so long, or so indeterminate, or possibly so pleasant that like Faust we don’t contemplate its end. It is what is meant in the fairy tales by “happily ever after”. It’s what is meant in the 23rd Psalm by “I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever.” It’s where our favorite characters in novels with happy endings re living on after we close the book.
When King Arthur received the sword Excalibur, he weeps because, although on one side of the blade is graven, “Take me up”, on the other side is graven, “Cast me away”, But Merlin reassures him “The time to cast away/ Is yet far off”. Arthur is entering his sempiternity, Camelot.
Is sempiternity the same as eternity?
No.
Nothing in our mortal world is forever, we all know that damned well. We know it in our blood and bones.
I have worked for a week to get ready for Christmas. And in January, I’ll have to work just a hard to dismantle it all.
But now, it’s Advent! I revel in it, I dwell in it.. Bleak January, begone! You cannot touch me now. I will sojourn here, lapped in light and music, for….as long as I will! “Heav’n in ordinarie” as George Herbert wrote.
I wish you all a blessed sempiternity during this Advent season.
”Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!”
ST UnWoked & UnVaxxed! 
Hypatia, you have outdone yourself! Thank you, and Blessed Advent! 🙂
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Thanks dear Judy! A blesséd Advent to you too!
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Amen, dear Hypatia! (Though it’s a bit compressed this year.) I plan on Candlemas as my day to move back into the secular stream of life. Peace and Blessings to you and yours!
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God bless you and send you a happy new year!
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Amen, and thank you, dear friend!
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I think it is like perfectly hitting a golf ball. Asking for a redneck, it is something like this when one loses track of time?
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Not being a golfer, I wouldn’t know, but I do think it’s sump’n like what people mean when they talk about being “in the zone”.
But it’s not forever, eventually the cock at the top of Yggdrasil crows, and the black cock of Hel answers him, and Ragnarok is upon us. “Sword time, axe time, e’er the world fall”…..it happens to civilizations, to cultures, to individuals…but not yet, stay in the blesséd NOW.
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livig i the ow. My ew edboard does’t let me mae certai letters right ow!
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I am bac. My eyboard issues persist.
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Looks like the K is stuck 😦 Praying for your new laptop!
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The N as well.
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