When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you
shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in
truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Kahlil Gibran
This is the irrational season
when love blooms bright and wild.
Had Mary been filled with reason
there’d have been no room for the child.
Madeleine L’Engle
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the people living in darkness
the people living in darkness have seen
the people living in darkness have seen a great light
Advent is an irrational season (L’Engle)
a season where longing and sadness dance
with anticipation and joy
where the threat of radical transformation looms
and the world is turned upside down
where the powerful fall
and the mournful and poor are blessed
and everything the world holds as sacred
is pronounced profane
and heaven comes down
and all the pain and wounds of the world
are touched with light and love
it has always been that way
on that night so long ago
shepherds suffered
as poor and outcast they watched their flocks
and yet their night was touched with delight
as angel choirs sang and good news was proclaimed
Mary struggled through the pain of childbirth
nestled there among the animals
and then there was delight
as breath came, and then a cry
Joseph probably pondered
as he watched it all unfold
confused, and yet touched with delight
Magi lost, but delighted by the star
wandered toward love
and now we too wander
a little bit lost
a little bit sad
full of fear and confusion
wondering where it all leads
this greed, this lust for power, these lies
and yet we delight in
Christmas lights twinkling
trees decorated
presents offered
cookies baked
all the colors and smells of the season
families gathering
this is not a Hallmark movie
for the lostness lingers
people are still sick, homeless, alienated, addicted
greedy, fearful, hateful
we are a people walking in darkness still
but it is a time to stop
and reflect
to look for signs and wonders
to find that star in the sky
and know that love is on the way
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