The Arrival of God’s Presence
As Christmas approaches next week, I find my soul longing to slow down.
It's been a packed fall, and the reflective parts of my soul are crying out for some recognition!
Looking for some pause.
Some space to slow down.
To take a deep breath.
So........I wrote a poem. :)
You may not know, but one of my first loves, and a central part of my devotional expression is poetry.
Poetry slows me down.
It gives me space to explore the mystery of words, sounds, and phrases even before they've arrived at meaning.
And at Christmas--in which we celebrate one of the most beautiful mysteries ever, the birth of the Son of God--poetry can help us to enter into the presence of God-with us (Emmanuel).
This poem below titled "He's Here," is directly inspired by last Sunday's sermon, and the line: “And the glory of the Lord shone around them” (Luke 2:9).
Hopefully, this poem helps us realize that the arrival of God's presence on the Judean hillside is connected to the hidden-glory that will arrive in the face of friends, family, and neighbors who visit our homes during the holidays.
May you be drawn nearer to Jesus as you read:
He's Here
while mary and joseph were in the shack,
ears full of baby cries, eyes wet: infant life.
God the Father was on the hillside.
visiting with sheep.
filling incoherence with light.
declaring through luminosity, “value,”
unto you, bearded men, who smell ripe
as a barn.
it was
awful.
fearful.
like our death.
unfair.
but it always is.
angelic voices speaking
what God's raging presence
screams, weighing us with light.
and once in a while, we gather. letting the
warm candle light and christmas glow into
our homes, filling with faces we don’t totally agree
with anymore, but welcome still, (with their own smell), and a smile,
carrying a gift wrapped mystery. we know not what will be,
we only know that in the shed is the king of glory, and if it’s good enough
for Him it’s good enough for me. this world is wrapped and waiting, though worn and fraying, and i’m looking for light in your eyes this time, wishing that the same thing that surprised me on the hillside, would surprise me again, inhabiting the humanity in front of me, alighting the dark with peace,
running into the shed, and in that fragile face, a king.
amen.
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If you want more poetry, check out the links below.
This is the last Sunday before Christmas and we’ll begin a journey alongside the Christmas couple, Mary & Joseph, as God uproots their whole lives with a promise that will outlive them, and as they stay obedient, despite imperial, social, and even spiritual offenses, they faithfully birth and raise the One who saves us all.
This Sunday is Part I “The Journey of Mary & Joseph - Uncomfortable yet Faithful” & Part II will be on Christmas Eve service at 4:30pm!
Merry Christmas (almost!),
Pastor Dave
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DavidMichaelLippman.com - where you'll find all my most recent writings.
Rabbit Room Poetry - an amazing gathering of Chrsitian poets and writers.
Malcome Guite's Youtube - a Cambridge professor and poet, who shares his hobbit-ish work and personality, and a whole host of thoughts on creativity, faith, and writing.
Some Peaceful Christmas Music - I've been listening to this relaxing Christmas worship music by New Grace Collective, all new songs, very peaceful!