The Boy at the Bus Stop

DAY 8 — “The Slow Elevator”“Welcome once again. We are in Day 8 of Advent,and this is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —where ordinary moments slow us downand prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.”“Today’s story comes from a place we all know…an elevator that refuses to hurry.”“It was a busy December morning in a crowded office building.People were rushing everywhere,arms full of files, phones glued to their ears,breath short with the weight of deadlines.A young man pressed the elevator button —once, twice, then rapidly again and again,as if tapping it repeatedly would somehow speed it up.An older janitor sweeping nearby chuckled softly and said,‘Pressing it ten times won’t make it come faster, son.’The young man laughed, embarrassed.Then the janitor added with a gentle wisdom,‘But don’t worry…it will still take you up —just not on your schedule.’The elevator finally arrived.And as the young man stepped in,his rushed heart slowed just a little.”“Isn’t that just like our lives?We press the buttons of our hopesagain and again and again —wanting answers now,healing now,clarity now,change now.We beg God to hurrybecause our hearts grow impatientwhen life doesn’t move at our pace.But Advent teaches usthe holy art of waiting.God does not rush,and yet He is never late.His timing may feel slow,but it always lifts usto the place we’re meant to be.The slow elevator reminds usthat upward movement still happens —even when it’s not on our timeline.”“So today, take a quiet moment and ask yourself:‘Where am I pressing too hard?What am I trying to rush that God is asking me to trust?’Let your spirit breathe.Release the impatient tapping of your heart.And whisper this prayer:‘Lord, lift me in Your time…and teach my soul to wait.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic.May patience grow gently within you today.”

7 Dec 2min

“Peace be upon you. We are in Day 7 of Advent,and welcome to Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —where the small moments of daily lifehelp us prepare our hearts for Christmas.”“Today’s story begins on a cold winter bench…with a single forgotten glove.”“It was a freezing December afternoon.People rushed through the park,heads down, collars up, hands buried in pockets.On one bench lay a single wool glove —soaked from the snow, muddy from footprints,ignored by everyone passing by.Most didn’t even look at it.But one woman stopped.Something about that lonely glovemade her pause.She picked it up gently,brushed off the snow,and placed it on the back of the benchwhere it could be easily seen.An hour later,an elderly man hurried toward the bench,eyes scanning desperately.When he saw the glove —his glove —he exhaled like someone findinga small piece of himself again.He slipped it onto his trembling handand whispered,‘Thank God… someone cared enough to notice.’”“Sometimes we feel like that lost glove —dropped, forgotten, overlooked,sitting in life’s cold placeshoping someone cares enough to notice.There are days when we feel misplacedin our families,in our friendships,even in our own hearts.But Advent tells us this truth:God always notices.God always searches.God always draws nearto the ones who feel left behind.You are never the forgotten glove on the bench.You are the one Christ comes looking for —patiently, persistently, lovingly.And He will place you backwhere you belong,warming your spiritwith His steady presence.”“So today, take a moment and ask yourself:‘Where do I feel lost or unseen?And can I trust that God is searching for me there?’Let Him find you.Let Him lift you gently.And whisper this Advent prayer:‘Lord, thank You for noticing me when I feel forgotten.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic.May you feel held, found, and warmed today.”

6 Dec 2min

“Welcome again. We are in Day 6 of Advent,and this is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —where ordinary moments help us prepare our hearts for Christmas.”“Today’s story comes from a woman who loved to watch…the evening sky.”“Every evening, just before supper,an elderly woman pulled her chair to the windowand watched the sunset.Her family worried about her.They thought she was lonely —just passing time staring at the sky.One day, her granddaughter asked,‘Grandma, why do you watch the sunset every day?’The old woman smiled gently and said,‘Because it reminds methat even the most beautiful thingsmust set…so something new can rise.’Her voice held no sadness —only a tender kind of wisdomthat comes from years of watching Godbring light out of darkness.”“There are sunsets in our lives too —chapters that end,relationships that shift,roles that change,dreams that fade.Some endings we choose,others break our hearts.But Advent teaches us that every endingprepares the sky for a new dawn.A part of your life may be setting right now —a season of waiting,a chapter of struggle,a hope that feels delayed.But God never lets a sunset be the last word.He uses it to soften the sky,to calm your spirit,to prepare the horizonfor something you cannot yet see.Advent is the timewhere the light is fading…but the promise is rising.”“So today, pause for a moment and ask yourself:‘What is God gently closing in my life?And what new dawn might He be preparing?’Don’t fear the sunset.Let God hold the ending.Whisper this prayer:‘Lord, bless my endings…and prepare my heart for the dawn.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic.May today’s light lead you gently into hope.”

5 Dec 2min

“A warm welcome to you. We are in Day 5 of Advent,and this is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —where simple daily stories awaken the meaning of the season.”“Today’s parable begins outside a bakery…with a man who couldn’t afford the bread.”“Every morning, a man walked past a bakery on his way to work.He never bought anything — he couldn't afford to.But he always paused, breathing in the warm, sweet smellthat made him feel human for a moment.One cold morning, the baker noticed him.The next day, a little bag sat outside the doorwith a handwritten note:‘Warmth is meant to be shared.’Inside was fresh bread —soft, warm, unexpected grace.”“Sometimes God's generosity arrivesin the simplest, most surprising ways.A kindness you didn’t expect.A moment of warmth when life feels cold.A reminder that you are seen.Advent reveals a Godwho places gifts at our doornot because we earn thembut because He loves to give.”“What unexpected gift has God placed at your door?Pray:‘Lord, open my eyes to Your generosity today.’”

4 Dec 1min

4 — “The Unsent Letter”“Grace and peace to you. We are in Day 4 of Advent,and welcome to Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic —a moment where ordinary storiesopen our hearts to the meaning of this holy season.”“Today’s parable begins with a quiet table…and a letter that was never posted.”“A widow had a ritual every December.She wrote a letter to her late husband —not to send it,but to release whatever she carried that year.This December, she sat down to write…but the words refused to come.Her grief felt heavier than ink.So she placed her hands on the blank pageand simply sat in silence.Minutes passed.Then, in the stillness,she felt something warm —a presence beside her,a quiet companionship she hadn’t felt in months.She realized the letter didn’t need words.Her heart needed stillness.And in that silence,God had entered the room.”“Some seasons of life leave us speechless.Grief does that.Confusion does that.Loneliness does that.We force ourselves to ‘move on,’‘be strong,’‘write the next chapter.’But Advent teaches us something gentler:Healing often beginsnot when we speak…but when we sit with God in quiet honesty.Your unsent letters,your unfinished prayers,your unspoken sorrows —these are not failures.They are sacred spaces where Christ desires to come close.Advent is not about perfect wordsbut about welcoming God into the wordless placesof your heart.”“So today, take a moment and ask yourself:‘Where do I need God to simply sit with me?’Don’t force the words.Just offer Him the silence.And whisper this prayer:‘Lord, meet me in the places I cannot express.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic.May God sit gently beside you today.”

3 Dec 1min

“Welcome to Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic —where simple stories from daily lifereveal the deeper meaning of Adventand help your heart prepare for Christmas.”“Today’s parable begins with something ordinary…a mug we think is ruined.”“A woman dropped her favorite blue mug one morning.It didn’t shatter —but a long crack ran down its side.She kept using it, but carefully…worried it would break completely.One day, a friend saw it and said,‘Why not fix it with gold?There’s a Japanese art called kintsugi —it fills the cracks with goldso the broken parts become the most beautiful.’She looked at the mug again…and for the first time,the crack didn’t feel like damage.It felt like a doorway to something new.”“We all have cracks —wounds we carry quietly,fears we don’t mention,memories that still ache.Like that woman,we often move through life cautiously,afraid the next hit will finally break us.But Advent tells a different story.God doesn’t discard the cracked.He restores them.He fills the fractures of our heartswith His tender mercy,His patience,His healing grace.Your broken places are not signs of failure —they are invitationsfor God’s beauty to shine through.Sometimes the cracks becomethe most sacred part of your story.”“So today, take a moment and ask yourself:‘Which crack in my life is God trying to fill with grace this Advent?’Hold it gently.Offer it honestly.And whisper this prayer:‘Lord, fill my broken places with Your light.’This is Tiny Advent Parables with me Fr. Dominic.Let God turn your cracks into beauty.”

1 Dec 2min

“One evening, a man walked home exhausted.As he passed the old abandoned house at the corner,he noticed its porch light glowing softly in the dark.It had been on for months — even though no one lived there.He used to complain about it.‘What a waste,’ he’d say.But that night, he paused.The small light…the quiet glow…made the entire street feel less empty,less frightening…almost warm.For the first time he realized —that tiny light was the only thingthat made the darkness feel a little less heavy.He whispered,‘Thank you… for staying on,’not knowing who he was thanking.”

30 Nov 1min