Wednesday, January 2, 2019

December 26, after Christmas walk






































it was warm 
for a december afternoon
and rain fell steady

inserting my ear phones
i started the walk
to the songs of les mis

another christmas 
had passed

i couldn’t help but wonder
if it would be the last 
with mom and dad

or might tragedy 
of another kind
befall 
before the halls
were decked again

then came the voice 
of young cosset
i slowed my steps
to listen well

and while 
her fragile words
settled in my heart

the weight of dread
took flight…

“there is a castle 
in the clouds
where no one’s lost
and no one cries”

(where there are
no sad goodbyes)

the song
like a snowflake,
faded quietly away

but other words
ancient and few

surfaced 
from memory

“FEAR NOT”
“For behold!”

how 
had i forgotten 
so soon?

“Behold!” 

“Behold”
and be held
all you who know yourselves
to be poor

“a baby 
is born!”

And He 
is the lamb

of God



“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. “
                                                              ~John the Baptist


“He shattered the space between heaven and earth 
and came naked and breakable for you in a creche.  
Then he lay naked and broken by you on a cross. 
You don’t have to try to save yourself.  Behold Him everywhere and be held.” 
                                                        Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift

My “word” for 2019 is remember. :)

What’s yours?

1 comment:

  1. Somehow I missed this last month and just read it now. "He shattered the space between heaven and earth," reminded me of the lyrics to the beautiful song "Labor of Love" from 'Behold the Lamb' by Andrew Peterson. That song is another stark reminder that the nativity was not sweet and nostalgic but shattering (in a good and terrible way).

    ReplyDelete