On the Edge of Waiting: A Meditation for Christmas Eve, Eve.
Shhh.
Come away a
moment,
my friend.
Come away
from the
lights,
and the
crowds,
and the
shops,
and the
noise,
and the
pressure,
and the
worrries,
and the old
wounds that
winter us
before our
time.
Come and
sit with me here.
Rest.
Just for a
moment.
Let me
share with you once again
what we
forget in our festive
frenzy:
He is
coming…
Down the
long ages of despair
He comes as
Hope.
Down the
rough road of doubt
He comes as
Faith.
Down the
broken byways
of the
human heart
He comes as
Love.
He is coming…
Sit with me
on the edge of waiting…
Sit in
sacred stillness…
Breathe the
deep breath of
blessing.
You do not
have to do anything.
He is
coming…
Whether you
are ready or not
Aware or
not,
Able or
not,
Present or
not,
Believing
or not,
He is
coming…
As the sun
rises,
as the moon
shines,
as the
tides turn,
as the
stars dance,
He is
coming…
So do not
worry.
Let the
tyranny of
tension
fall from
you…
You never
needed to carry it.
Let the
false face of
righteous
readiness to defend,
dissolve.
You never
needed to wear it.
How could
you ever be ready
for this?
For the
first proclamation of the
Kingdom to
be heard in a baby’s
cry.
Nothing is
asked of you
but
to be here
and now
who you
are.
Truly.
Fully.
Broken?
Yes.
Weak?
Yes.
Called?
Oh yes.
He is coming…
And He is
calling you to come to Him.
As He
always does.
As He
always will.
So, how
will you greet Him,
the One who
is coming?
The One who
calls you,
to His
crib.
(Yes, you.)
Will you
prepare a place for Him?
Will you open
the cave of your heart to Him?
Will you
place Him in the sanctuary of your soul?
Will you
lay Him upon the rough straw of your life?
Will you
swaddle Him with your silence?
Will you offer
Him the gentle warmth of animal breath?
Will you offer
Him your love?
Or not.
He is
coming…
Do not miss
the moment
Of Mystery’s
mangered
birth
by succumbing
to
Bethlehem busyness.
No.
Become as
still as a shepherd watching the flock of slumbering sheep.
Become as
still as a sage watching the long dance of the stars.
Become as
still as Joseph hearing Angels on the edge of dreams.
Become as
still as she who is the stillpoint of love’s longing, filled with light.
Be still
and you will know
He is
coming…
Always…
In
stillness,
on the edge
of waiting…
He is
coming for you…
He is
coming to you…
Always.
He is
coming in Love.
Hi Brother Richard,
ReplyDeleteI'm the editor of a small church magazine and part of our theme for this issue is keeping the lessons and meaning of Christmas going into the new year. I wonder if we could publish your meditation? I'd obviously credit it in whichever way you would prefer. Please let me know. Thanks. Rachel
Hi Rachel. Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteNo problem at all about using the material. Credit is fine.
In peace and with blessing,
Brother Richard
Brother Richard. I have been so moved by this reflection. May I respectfully share it with loved one's in a Christmas Card with credit to you? - Kristen
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comment Kristen. I'm glad you liked it. You are most welcome to share it with anyone you like!
DeleteBlessings to you and yours for a holy Advent and a blessed Christmas.
Thank you so very, very much. I first saw it on Christmas eve last year and it moved me to tears in such a deep, knowing and comforting way and brought the true and lasting meaning of the first Christmas to me right there and then in this modern day - and here I will share it with others too. There are no words to express. Merry Christmas and thank you for the gift of your insight, poetic talents and generosity. God Bless. - Kristen
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