Several of you have asked for my Christmas poems– here are several of the ones most requested.<\/p>\n
And full of cheerless cheer,<\/p>\n When hopes are raised and dashed again<\/p>\n And joy dissolves in tears.<\/p>\n \n The search for endless family<\/p>\n The search for one true Friend<\/p>\n Leaves questers tired, disconsolate<\/p>\n With questions without end.<\/p>\n \n Best find some potent pleasure quick<\/p>\n Some superficial thrill<\/p>\n Than search for everlasting love<\/p>\n When none can fill that bill.<\/p>\n \n So hide yourselves in shopping<\/p>\n And eating \u2018til you burst,<\/p>\n Use endless entertainment<\/p>\n As shelter from the worst.<\/p>\n \n And hope at least for truce on earth,<\/p>\n Though warlords rattle swords<\/p>\n As if to kill could solve our ills<\/p>\n We seize our \u2018just\u2019 rewards.<\/p>\n \n Mistake some rest for lasting peace<\/p>\n And calm for \u2018all is well\u2019<\/p>\n And absence of activity<\/p>\n As year end\u2019s victory bell.<\/p>\n \n But what if Advent is no quest<\/p>\n Despite the wise men\u2019s star<\/p>\n What if Advent isn\u2019t reached<\/p>\n By driving from afar?<\/p>\n \n What if Good News comes to us<\/p>\n From well beyond our reach?<\/p>\n What if love and peace on earth<\/p>\n Are more than things we preach?<\/p>\n \n \n \n What if a restless peace<\/p>\n Is what He did intend<\/p>\n Until we open up our lives<\/p>\n And let the stranger in?<\/p>\n \n What if a peaceless rest<\/p>\n Is not the Christmas hope<\/p>\n What if nothing we could do<\/p>\n Helps us truly cope?<\/p>\n \n What if there is a bonding<\/p>\n With one who rules above<\/p>\n Who came to us in beggar\u2019s rags<\/p>\n And brought the gift of love?<\/p>\n \n The God shaped hole in every heart<\/p>\n Is healed by just one source<\/p>\n When Jesus comes to claim his own<\/p>\n Who are without recourse.<\/p>\n \n So give up endless seeking<\/p>\n Surrender is required<\/p>\n The one who is the Lord of all<\/p>\n Cannot be bought or hired,<\/p>\n \n He\u2019s not conjured into life<\/p>\n By pomp and circumstance<\/p>\n By Yuletide carols boldly sung<\/p>\n By fun or drunken trance.<\/p>\n \n He comes unbidden, unawares<\/p>\n Fills crevices of souls<\/p>\n He comes on his own timely terms<\/p>\n And makes the sinner whole.<\/p>\n \n \u2018We shall be restless\u2019 said the saint<\/p>\n \u2018Until we rest in thee\u2019<\/p>\n And find that we have been reborn,<\/p>\n Our own nativity.<\/p>\n \n How silently, how silently<\/p>\n The precious truth is given<\/p>\n And God imparts to human hearts<\/p>\n The blessings of his heaven.<\/p>\n ————— <\/p>\n \n CREATURES OF HABIT<\/span><\/p>\n \n Creatures of habit,<\/p>\n Day after day<\/p>\n Go about life,<\/p>\n The same old way. <\/p>\n \n Nothing disturbs<\/p>\n Their orderly routine<\/p>\n All must be neat,<\/p>\n And all must be clean.<\/p>\n \n They\u2019re making their lists<\/p>\n And checking them twice,<\/p>\n Trying to make sure<\/p>\n Their work will suffice.<\/p>\n \n Impatient by nature<\/p>\n They don\u2019t suffer fools<\/p>\n Gladly or otherwise<\/p>\n Because of the rules.<\/p>\n \n A place for everything<\/p>\n For all there\u2019s a place<\/p>\n Don\u2019t touch the guest towels<\/p>\n But please wash your face.<\/p>\n \n They insist on living<\/p>\n Orderly lives,<\/p>\n And of course only marry<\/p>\n Orderly wives.<\/p>\n \n Their homes antiseptic<\/p>\n Their cars always clean,<\/p>\n Their food always healthy<\/p>\n Their meat always lean.<\/p>\n \n Like ants in an ant hill,<\/p>\n Repeating their tasks<\/p>\n Rest in repetition<\/p>\n Ignore the mask.<\/p>\n \n Chaos is forbidden<\/p>\n Experiment absurd<\/p>\n Don\u2019t ask for creative<\/p>\n Don\u2019t mention the word.<\/p>\n Creatures of habit,<\/p>\n By whose design?<\/p>\n Is this just human,<\/p>\n Or is it divine?<\/p>\n \n What if we found<\/p>\n That ordering our sphere,<\/p>\n Is just a misnomer<\/p>\n For controlling our fear?<\/p>\n \n Fear of the truth,<\/p>\n Fear of falling<\/p>\n Fear of the unknown,<\/p>\n Fear of our calling<\/p>\n \n Fearing to let go,<\/p>\n Fearing to try,<\/p>\n Fearing to live,<\/p>\n And fearing to die.<\/p>\n \n Perhaps if we surrender<\/p>\n Control of our lives,<\/p>\n And offer ourselves<\/p>\n To all seeing eyes<\/p>\n \n We\u2019d find a new freedom<\/p>\n Though not out of bounds<\/p>\n For when he controls us<\/p>\n The order\u2019s profound.<\/p>\n \n Let go of the death grip,<\/p>\n You have on your life<\/p>\n Inhibit your habits<\/p>\n Without artifice.<\/p>\n \n Accept serendipity,<\/p>\n Free by design<\/p>\n Eat the new manna<\/p>\n Drink the new wine.<\/p>\n \n Come to the manger<\/p>\n Kneel at the throne<\/p>\n Realize your ruler<\/p>\n Won\u2019t leave you alone.<\/p>\n \n \n Celebrate Christmas<\/p>\n Deliverance declare<\/p>\n You\u2019re freed to inhabit<\/p>\n A creature\u2019s full share.<\/p>\n \n Dec. 1 2005<\/p>\n —————- <\/span> <\/p>\n Holidays are hollow<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span>Unless they\u2019re hallowed well,<\/p>\n <\/span>For holidays are holy days<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span>The time for truth to tell.<\/p>\n \n <\/span> <\/span>There\u2019s time to spare<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span>Time to waste<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span>Time to make amends<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span>Time to do most anything<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span>Even make new friends<\/p>\n \n <\/span> <\/span>Holidays, a good time<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span>For writing poetry<\/p>\n <\/span>A silent, subtle indolence<\/p>\n <\/span>Inspires creativity <\/span> <\/p>\n INCOGNITO<\/span><\/p>\n \n He came in incognito,<\/p>\n A thinly veiled disguise<\/p>\n The not so subtle son of man,<\/p>\n A human with God\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \n The messianic secret,<\/p>\n Left many unawares<\/p>\n A God had walked upon the earth<\/p>\n And shared our human cares.<\/p>\n \n We did not see his glory,<\/p>\n At least not at first glimpse,<\/p>\n It took an Easter wake up call,<\/p>\n Before it all made sense.<\/p>\n \n The truth of Incarnation,<\/p>\n Of dwelling within flesh,<\/p>\n Shows goodness in creation,<\/p>\n And Word of God made fresh.<\/p>\n \n Standing on the boundary<\/p>\n Twixt earth and heaven above<\/p>\n A Jew who hailed from Nazareth<\/p>\n But came from God\u2019s great love.<\/p>\n \n Born of humble parents,<\/p>\n Installed inside a stall<\/p>\n This king required no entourage<\/p>\n No pomp or falderal<\/p>\n \n No person was beneath him<\/p>\n No angel o\u2019er his head,<\/p>\n He came to serve the human race<\/p>\n To raise it from the dead.<\/p>\n \n His death a great conundrum,<\/p>\n How can the Deathless die?<\/p>\n But if he had not bowed his head,<\/p>\n Life would have passed us by.<\/p>\n \n Though we are dying to be loved,<\/p>\n And long for endless life,<\/p>\n He was dying in his love,<\/p>\n And thereby ending strife.<\/p>\n Perhaps the incognito<\/p>\n Belongs instead to us,<\/p>\n Who play at being human,<\/p>\n And fail to be gold dust. <\/span><\/p>\n \n But there was once a God-man<\/p>\n Who played the human\u2019s part<\/p>\n And lived and died and rose again<\/p>\n Made sin and death depart.<\/p>\n \n Yes now through a glass dimly,<\/p>\n We see the visage royal<\/p>\n And feebly honor his great worth<\/p>\n And his atoning toil.<\/p>\n \n We cannot see his Spirit,<\/p>\n But moved by its effects<\/p>\n We are inspired to praise his worth<\/p>\n And pay our last respects.<\/p>\n \n Yet that too brings him glory<\/p>\n That too makes a start,<\/p>\n The journey of a million miles<\/p>\n Begins within one\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n \n And someday we shall see him<\/p>\n And fully praise his grace,<\/p>\n Someday when heaven and earth collide<\/p>\n And we see face to face.<\/p>\n \n He comes in blinding brilliance,<\/p>\n A not so veiled disguise<\/p>\n The not so subtle Son of God,<\/p>\n A God with human eyes.<\/p>\n —————- Several of you have asked for my Christmas poems– here are several of the ones most requested. THE BONDING A cold and listless season, And full of cheerless cheer, When hopes are raised and dashed again And joy dissolves in tears. The search for endless family The search for one true Friend Leaves questers tired,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/span>A cold and listless season,<\/p>\n
HOLIDAYS\/HOLY DAYS<\/p>\n
———————-<\/p>\n
Love and Blessings to All you out there is Bloggerville during this holy season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"