A Christmas poem for you and yours…
It’s late, and I’m still buzzing (spiritually, that is) after celebrating my first Christmas Eve Eucharist as an ordained pastor. I can’t believe I get to serve such an incredible group of people at Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos, CA. My heart is beyond full (as is my head).
Methinks you might enjoy one of the best Christmas poems I know of. We read it as part of our Lessons and Carols service a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve seen it popping up everywhere since. (It’s like when you buy a new car, and you never saw that car anywhere else before, but now you see it EVERYWHERE. That’s what’s happening with this poem right now in my world.)
I hope you can read it by yourself or maybe to one or four other listening ears this Christmas day. Without further adieu…
‘First Coming’ by Madeleine L’Engle
He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine.He did not wait till hearts were pure.
In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
With Christmas Joy,
Jonas+