This post was first shared during (the pandemic) Advent 2020. Waiting, longing, hoping are always part of the life of faith. We take this waiting posture and acknowledge the feelings of longing as well as the constant returning of hope, during this time of year especially. Advent/Christmas blessings to all our readers and listeners!
A few moments a day: read, listen, quiet your heart.
(Click audio files to hear poets read their poems. Enjoy. Reflect. Respond.)
WHEN GOD GAVE US JESUS
The One Who would save us—
Heaven could not contain itself.
Light spilled from a star,
heralding His arrival.
The earth burst into life.
Birds called for revival.
And frightened shepherds
trembled like sheep
When angels awakened
their sleep with song
as light as snowflakes,
as powerful as a
tsunami of harmony
pouring onto earth
at Jesus’ birth.
Oh, praise Him!
(from PRAISE! Poems)
COME TO ME
Come to me …
An invitation
An invitation
to be free from worry
to take a deep breath
to learn to be humble
to heal hearts with rest
Come to me …
An invitation
An invitation
to release all grudges
to find our purpose
to let Someone guide us
to seek greater Love
Come to me …
An invitation
An invitation
to follow the good path
to ease heavy loads
to discover real joy
to find lasting peace
I think I’ll RSVP
(from Bible Poems for Reflections and Response)
COURAGE IN
Encourage each one,
dear God,
their heart desire
to know.
Distill the cry
of “help”
to nesting purr
of “with”—
so they can face
the day
and all it holds…
the night
and all it hides…
to see
in darkness, treasures,
awake
with second sight.
(from Where All Things Meet, Mirror & Mingle)
STAR
Star atop our tree
Spotlight of nativity
Resembles the pitch black sky
The bleakness, but then the sign
For all to see, and no king overthrow
Placed in heaven’s open window
Brilliant, bright, breathtaking sight
On that glorious beautiful night
Emmanuel, God among us
In straw and hay dwelt
Canes of shepherd, shadows cast
Lows of sheep among the grass
Mother’s promised joy
Father’s baby boy
Songs of angels surround
Multitudes in Bethlehem town
The promised Messiah has arrived
Man’s debt, a living sacrifice
Wise men travel from the east
Gifts draped across their beasts
Star, star, brilliantly beaming
Spotlight of nativity
Herald of redemption story
(from I Cry Unto You, O Lord: Poems of Lament)
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Dear Catherine, I\’d like to share one of my poems with you. Judith Vander Wege
Share it here in the comments if you like.
These poems brought me to that still place in Christ–a precious gift before heading off to work! Thank you!
Kim, what a lovely thing to hear. That is surely a large part of what we want our poetry to do for people–bring them to a still place in Christ. Christmas blessings to you!