Sweet Words from Maine

Hawk Eyes

There is a lesson for us in that hawk’s eye.

When we are wary and discerning, we can sort out the good from the bad and distinguish truth from delusion and falsehood. Bombarded with influencers, vain and deluded thinkers, paper thin heroes, power hungry leaders, flimflam artists, conspiracy theories, conflicting, divisive ideologies and agendas, and false or biased news, we must be vigilant. There are those who willingly deceive or prevaricate to obtain our votes or finances, but more importantly, there are those who would steal our minds and torpedo our knowledge and enjoyment of God forever. Whether we realize it or not, there is a ongoing spiritual battle for our fragile, sacred souls. In today’s culture, we need “eyes like a hawk”.

Created with a innate capacity to be generous and loving, we strive to be people of integrity, but our moral sensibilities are not derived from some social construct. They are part of our created being and purpose. Cultural morality and values are situational. They vary with circumstances and desires and are not held to a consistent standard. Moral relativity leaves our inner lives in a confused, precarious state. “We do what we do because we want what we want.” And we make every attempt to justify what we want to do. However, we fail to be perfect or often make unjust, self biased decisions. That is a problem.

Christ addressed this problem. He said that although men and women may do good things, out of their hearts come evil thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. (Matthew 12:34-40;15:19) That is why redemption and spiritual empowerment are essential. Faith turns one from self-centeredness and the dangers of moral relativity to God’s moral perfection and the idea that we are created to mirror His character. So, Scripture guides in ways to be vigilant, to protect our spirits where our intellects reside, our emotions respond, and our will controls.

Why all this instruction about watchfulness? God’s moral prescription leads to emotional and spiritual thriving and healthy relationships. Because He loves and desires good for humanity, He sent us Christ…to show us our need, to redeem and reorient our hearts, and to set us on a grander course of seeking eternal values.

Inexhaustible Questions

In a voice trembling with suffering and grief, Job cried out to God, whom he felt had unjustly allowed a series of tragedies to befall him. A righteous man, he believed he had been wrongly treated and deserved better. He did not just complain to his friends; he was so distressed that he wanted God to obliterate the day he had been born and to wipe away any evidence of his existence. He demanded an audience with God.

Within a whirlwind of probing questions, God proved the point that Job could not fully understand or explain the complex and amazing physical world surrounding him let alone the unseen moral universe of God’s good purposes and perfect justice.

God inquired of Job: “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?….Do you know when the wild goats give birth? Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?”

In today’s parlance that might be “Have you seen atoms and sub atomic quarks and gluons? Have you seen the ends of space? Have you revealed all the mysteries of the human cell?

Even after all the scientific discoveries uncovered by our curiosity and advanced technology, our immense universe continues to amaze with its inexhaustible secrets. Each new discovery comes with a set of new questions which are humbling reminders that there is a level of purpose that lies beyond our full comprehension.

Job’s concept of God was small and contained. When he realized how limited his knowledge of the moral universe was , he exclaimed, “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know…I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:3-6)

As we continue to formulate and reformulate our theories of life’s origins and meaning, we should do so with great humility. Giving strong consideration to not just the idea of God but to discovering how He has revealed Himself and His purposes through the natural world is just one gate which opens His “divine nature” and “eternal power” to us.

Sense or Senseless?

“Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea.” (Ecclesiastes 1)

That statement is a fragmented thought from King Solomon’s larger assessment of life’s meaningless monotony. Despite power and wealth, both Solomon and his father, King David, expressed some surprisingly humble discoveries about purpose and meaning.

David extolled God’s role in life in his celebratory Psalm 24. He humbly worshiped God as the awesome Sovereign and Creator and the powerful King of Glory: “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!”

Realizing his own moral inadequacy and redemptive powerlessness and recognizing God’s unique loving and merciful character, David discerned that those with “clean hands” and “pure hearts,” those of honesty and integrity, those who adhere to truth, and those who seek God, will be the ones blessed with God’s righteousness and salvation. (Psalm 24:1-9)

Solomon’s intelligence, wealth, and status along with an adventurous and willful spirit enabled him to explore and experiment with his amazing life but more importantly to insightfully assess it. His deliberate detours around God had left him with an inner emptiness and led him to a startlingly, disconcerting conclusion! “Everything is meaningless…completely meaningless!” “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-8)

Surprisingly, his negative observations did not depress but invigorated his spirit. He said, “Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty…” (Ecclesiastes 12:12-14)

Solomon eventually got it! Reverential fear of God’s holiness amplifies the fact that we are unholy. We are morally flawed and in need of God’s mercy. Both Kings spoke of God’s amazing grace and love for miserable humanity. It exceeds understanding. Jesus told Nicodemus that God loved the world so much that he gave His Son to take His holy wrath for our sins upon Christ so that we would never be condemned. (John 3:16-17)

Life will continue its natural cycles; night will follow day; seasons will continue to change; the rivers will flow and be replenished. But underneath the routine, the regularity, the boring, and the monotonous, lies a powerful, meaningful grandness and future when lived within God’s love and purpose which is to redeem and restore humanity so we can know and enjoy Him forever.

If we are created in God’s image, we should understand who we are meant to be. Seeking God is life’s major purpose. He makes sense out of what may sometimes seem senseless.

Love at Work

Country churches with their white spires poking into the sky stir up some wistful childhood memories of growing up in a small Maine town. Their edifices are historical icons. For the most part they are reminders of the long history of Christianity in New England and the central role it has played in the social and spiritual health of local communities. If they could speak, they would tell about generations of villagers who regularly attended, socialized, and worshiped within their sanctuaries. Some former parishioners are buried just outside the stained glass windows behind which their descendants still worship and squirm in well worn, uncomfortable pews Sunday after Sunday, year after year. Pump organs wheeze out hymns of the faith. Sanctuaries echo with messages extracted from ancient pulpit Bibles.

Catholicism and mainline protestant denominations are struggling today with issues of relevance while still preserving the important, foundational doctrines of the Church. In an increasingly humanistic society which has no need for God and asserts that ethics and morality are situational and arise from accepted societal norms and the goodness of man, there is conflict with Christian doctrine which holds that God is the source of morality and that mankind is so spiritually broken and morally impure that it needs restoration which is attained by faith. These are divergent views that can never conjoin. Difficulties arise when either or both parties behave with arrogance and disrespect, refuse to civilly engage, and intolerantly oppress the other.

Preserving the undiluted message of the Gospel and the authority of Scripture is the responsibility of the Church. Condemnation is not the work of the Church. The Word of God will discern the heart. Christ said that he did not come into the world to condemn it. He came as God’s grace and said that people would be judged by what they did with his teachings because what he spoke was the will of his Father. (John 3:47; 5:30; 12:19)

The tension we may sense between God’s amazing love and His holiness are major themes of Scripture! His love is all encompassing. He “loved the world” in an amazingly participatory way. (John 3:16) Because we all fall short of moral purity, Jesus came to redeem us, take the judgment for our sins, and give us his righteousness. (1John 4:9) Love and holiness are gifted to us through Christ. As images of God we have been created to be loving and holy. Because we obviously fail in both categories, we need God’s gracious redemption and the righteousness Christ gives us. Neither salvation nor holiness are achieved by our works, our efforts to be good enough.

Although current buzz words like tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion are wonderful concepts and hold an aura of love, they dilute love’s essence when substituted for or given equal status with love. Their use is limited, undiscerning, and potentially deceitful and harmful if not placed within the context of God’s holiness. Divine love is actually the remedy for our unholiness. It sets attitudinal and behavioral boundaries because it desires only the best for its recipient. God has set and shown us the guidelines for healthy moral choices because not every action or idea is good. Love from a biblical view point does not tolerate what is scripturally defined as unholy because immorality, lousy attitudes, and bad behaviors destroy the spirit.

If churches wish to be relevant in a society which is devolving into confusion and violence, then concern for souls has to be a priority. Although Christ’s heart was with the poor, sick, and disenfranchised, he came primarily to “seek and to save the lost”, to reveal truth about our lostness and God’s redemption. (Luke 19:10) (John 18:37) That is the Gospel, which is the life changing “power of God unto salvation to those who will believe.” (Romans 1:16) (1 Corinthians 1:18)(1 Corinthians 1:30) Grace, mercy, love and justice will spring from a faith which reorients love of self to love for God and others.

Churches will not “fail” if they adhere to God’s Word. Neither will societies that know and practice it.

Does Peace Have a Chance?

Spring—Congregational Church, Machias, Maine

John Lennon’s lyrics of “All we are saying is give peace a chance” “are familiar to those who remember the antiwar songs of the sixty’s. It may seem cynical to say, but history has proven that world peace will always be an elusive, utopian ideal. There is no trust among those who seek power and control. The aggressive, competitive, greedy, selfish nature of mankind prohibits peace from being a reality. That is why our country needs a Department of Defense and why Jesus made several distinct predictions about the “end of the age” which included the truth that his followers would face troubles, that God’s redemptive plan would be theologically perverted, and that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24:5-7)

However, our destiny need not be anxiety, restlessness, disagreements, and dissatisfaction! Despite his ominous predictions, Jesus gave his followers tremendous encouragement. He assured them that his Spirit would always be with them and that his words and promises were true and would bring them reassurance and peace. “ I have told you these things so that in me you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

It seems a bit curious to claim victory over the world that beat and killed him? However, even though the world crucified him, Jesus moved heaven’s authority and power to combat evil’s influence on the human soul. By accepting the consequences of our transgressions at the cross, he made redemption possible and completely erased condemnation for those who choose to believe. In resurrection power he took away death’s sting. Peace and life with God became possible through faith.

One of the oldest Bible books states a life principle: “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.” (Job 22:21-22) The Old Testament prophet Isaiah put it this way when speaking of God: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3 (NLT2) He subsequently deepened that thought: “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; .” ( Isaiah 48:17-22)

Both Old and New Testaments teach us that peace and righteousness are found when we agree with God, trust God, honor God, and follow God’s life principles. That would seem to be a very good definition of faith. The Apostle Paul assured the Roman church: ^“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us… (We are forgiven, made righteous, free from condemnation and fear of death, and are restored, children of God)… and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (parentheses mine) (Romans 5:1-2 (NLT2)

A prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi expresses this humility of mind and heart: “Lord, make us instruments of your peace/Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon/ where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith/where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light/where there is sadness, joy/ Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love/ For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Those principles were taught and modeled by Christ and were encouragements which the Apostle Paul gave to the Colossians : “let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:15)

If those prayers became a universal mind set, there would be hope for peace.

Give peace a chance!

Of Kingfishers, Pebbles, and Bells…

Watching kingfishers fish along the Taunton river has always been a summer treat. Not long ago, a friend gifted me with a wonderful, little kingfisher painting which he had done. It was accompanied by his hand printed copy of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, As Kingfishers Catch Fire:

“As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame/ As tumbled over rim in roundy wells/ Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s/ Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name/ Each mortal thing does one thing and the same/ Deals out that being indoors each one dwells/ Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells/ Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.“

The poem flows with imagination, alliteration and rhyming but also expresses a deep theological truth. (Not a surprise because Hopkins was a Jesuit priest.) Just as kingfishers catch the light in their rapid dive for food or as pebbles resound when they roll off a well’s rim into the water, or as bells fling out their own special tones, our souls have their own way of perceiving and expressing their unique roles in life. “What I do is me: for that I came.”

That short statement encapsulates the need for our special self expressions but with a determined higher purpose in mind. The second verse captures the essence of that common purpose.

“I say more: the just man justices/ Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces/ Acts in God’s eyes what in God’s eyes he is-/ Christ —for Christ plays in ten thousand places;/ Lovely in limbs and lovely in eyes not his/ To the Father through the feature of men’s faces”

Even though we express ourselves through different personalities and giftedness, our spirits have been created to be images of our Creator. The Apostle Paul addressed that concept in his letter to the Roman Church. (Romans 8:28-29) Having received God’s gracious forgiveness and redemption, believers can live graciously because God works good through life’s situations while conforming them to the character of Christ, who modeled patience and kindness, goodness and gentleness, gratitude and joy, faithfulness and love.

So whether one is a kingfisher, a pebble, or a gonging bell, the prayerful goal of every Christian should be to mirror the character of God, or as Albert Orsborn expressed in song: “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me/ All his wonderful passion and purity/ O thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine/Til the beauty of Jesus is seen in me.”

Calm Winds, Easy Seas, and Full Sails

Sailing By Saddleback Ledge, Penobscot Bay, Maine

Calm winds, easy seas, and full sails bring to mind the Message’s paraphrase of Psalm 84:12!

All sunshine and sovereign is God,
generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions.
It’s smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies. (MSG)

To those who have been through deep waters of hurt and suffering or grief and troubling difficulties, “smooth sailing all the way” may seem a hollow thought and raises the question of whether God is really good all the time.

Psalm 107:1 says He is: “Oh, thank God—he’s so good! His love never runs out.” (MSG) However, the Psalmist is not naïve. He has had his share of sadness. He is thinking globally and is expressing gratitude for those worldwide (from the four winds, from the seven seas) who God has graciously freed from various life conditions because of His “miraculous mercy and marvelous love“. He sings of God’s compassion for the oppressed, the homeless and wandering, the imprisioned, the sick because of debauchery, and for those attempting to run from God. When they “called out to God“, they were wonderfully saved from their condition.

Calling on the Name of the Lord presupposes that there is belief. The principle that God always responds to believing, repentant hearts is as old as mankind and as contemporary as today! As early as Genesis 4:26, common people and then later Patriarchs, Kings, and Prophets began to call on the Name of the Lord as they sought help from the Giver of Life. They expected to be heard because God promised redemption to all who trusted Him: “Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” (Psalm 50:15 (NLT2)

“I call to God, and the LORD will save me.” (Psalm 55:16 (ESV)

“O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.” (Psalm 86:5 (NLT2)

“Then ( in repentance) you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ (Isaiah 58:9 (ESV)

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32)

And the 107th Psalm ends with the admonition : “If you are really wise, you’ll think this over— it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.” (MSG)

That “deep love” culminates in Christ and his sacrifice on the cross for our sinfulness. “There is no greater love than that a man give his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Christ came to seek and to save, to heal and free mankind from deep spiritual burdens of lostness, oppression, enslavement, and rebellion. (Luke 4:18)

God knows and relates to our physical and spiritual troubles through the temptations and sufferings experienced by Christ, who has walked our journey. He will change our perspective and our story when we trust Him to guide us.

God’s deep, divine love secures the soul for “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39)

And how blessed all those in whom you live,
whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
at the last turn—Zion! God in full view! (Psalm 84:5-7, MSG)

God’s goodness is never ending! He is good all the time.

More Precious than Gold?

In 1923 Robert Frost wrote the short poem “Nothing Gold can Stay”.

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

The poem beautifully but sadly states the ancient lament that there is no permanence to life. Things change. Youthful vigor declines; beauty fades; wealth dissipates; power and prestige are fragile; relationships devolve; dreams fail and disappoint. Life is but a mist. “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” (James 4:14) Although that is all true, there are rock solid, reassuring, unchanging truths. God, His Word, His love, His Son, and His grace-filled redemption never change.

God revealed His immutability to Malachi: “For I the LORD do not change…” (Malachi 3:6) Jeremiah expressed that thought this way: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. (Lamentations 3:22) The Psalmist began and ended his song: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 118:29)

Scripture is authoritative and enduring. It flow from God’s integrity and eternality. “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6) The Psalmist sang, “..the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:9-10) God ‘s words are meant for our good. He guides us into happiness and blessings. Christ prayed for his disciples, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

God’s Word is eternal: “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160) Like Frost, the prophet Isaiah, recognized life’s transient nature but also realized that the what God says persists beyond the ages: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 4:8) Notably, Christ claimed to do God’s works and to speak God’s words and proclaimed that “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” (John 17:17)

God’s Word is powerful. He assured Isaiah: “…it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) Furthermore, generations of God seekers can testify that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16)

God’s love is steadfast and all encompassing and is vividly and ultimately expressed through the incarnation and sacrifice of Christ. “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:10) ^“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Christ and his love are a constant. He loved and died for the world and is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” (John 3:16) (Hebrews 13:8)

Golden moments flit away. We experience loss; we age; we malfunction; we face societal diminishing. Gold corrodes. Its brilliant luster fades. It is easily spent. “Nothing gold can stay.” But the Apostle Peter reminds us that faith is more precious than gold. “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-9)

There is a simple but profound children’s chorus which connects these enduring gold threads of God’s grace: His Word, His love, His Son, and His redemptive mercy: “Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so.”

A Question of Legacy

In a recent article titled “Your Legacy”, Richard Simmons III asked the question , “What do you want to be remembered for?” He said that “Once your earthly life is over, your reputation will become your legacy.” Then he quoted from author David Brooks book The Road to Character in which the author differentiates between “resume virtues” and “eulogy virtues”:

“Resume virtues are professional and oriented toward earthly success. They require comparison with others. Eulogy virtues are ethical and spiritual and require no comparison. Your eulogy virtues are what you really would want people to talk about at your funeral…”

Although Simmons’ article makes thoughtful points, resumes and eulogies are obviously about us. But life is not all about us! We are meant for something more grand, more eternal, than a nice goodbye speech which will soon be forgotten regardless of the amount of good deeds done, nice relationships held, and fine words said. We are messengers with a story to live and tell. The book of Proverbs wisely exhorts: “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” (Proverbs 22:6) That idea raises the question of ethics. What is the basis of our advice? The Apostle Paul encouraged “Fathers” to bring their children up “with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) So, according to Scripture, God’s principles for living are foundational to the development of ethical thought and behavior.

Scripture is replete with exhortations to not only Jews and Christians but to all people about teaching succeeding generations who God is and about His love for humanity. Moses gave specific instructions that the Israelites teach, live, and continually talk with their children about God and His works and Laws. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

The Psalmist testified many times to this crucial generational responsibility: “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds/So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. (Psalm 71:17-19) He did this because God “apppointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments…” (Psalm 78:2-8)

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed and the Apostle Paul echoed the beauty embodied in this generational process: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation… ” (Isaiah 52:7) (Romans 10: 14-15)

Encouraging giftednesss, integrity, hard, work, generosity, compassion and the enjoyment of life are important to raise heathy children who are good citizens, but all accomplishments, wealth, and fun will one day mean nothing. In contrast, a relationship with God will mean everything.

The Christian community has just celebrated Easter and the confidence that forgiveness and eternal life are found through belief in Christ’s atoning death and triumphant resurrection. Every generation and every tongue deserve to know the awesomeness, the love, the miraculous power, the miracles, the splendor, and the greatness of God so they can “hope” in God and live rightly in His image.(Psalm 145:3-6)

That message must be spoken out loud. Otherwise, no generation will know the good news of God and His redemptive acts or understand Christ’s saving sacrifice on the cross for them. Everyone not only deserves to hear the Gospel but also to see authentic faith lived out and to have an opportunity to respond.

Some of those “beautiful feet upon the mountains” belong to parents, grandparents, families, teachers , mentors, and churches who have a tremendous and increasingly difficult responsibility to speak and live Christ’s Good News in an expanding humanistic society. Their lasting legacies of words, teachings, values, and efforts for the common good will spring from lives of devotion and will undoubtedly be noted in eulogies written on hearts which will have found faith.

Those are convicting thoughts. How are we doing?

all shepherds we…

Like the shepherds, we …

anxious, waiting,

wrapped in Bethlehem’s darkness

listening for circling wolves…

unseen, lurking, howling,

threatening, fearsome,

snarling…

imagined phantoms of

loss,

impossibilities,

hurt, grief, shame

terrifying death…

Like the shepherds we…

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting…

for the dawn.

Have we not heard the angel?

Fear not!

Immanuel!

God is here!

A Savior for all nation!

Redemption! Peace for our souls!

In the fullness of time…

In the stable darkness,

A glimmer of great grace!

A flicker of hope!

Light!

Would the light prevail through

the black, evil night

and hellish fury of

betrayal, agony, cruelty?

a cross?

a tomb?

death?

The flame flickered, dimmed…

The wolves encroached

Ferocious despair, doubt, confusion

Would, could, dawn dawn?

Yes! Yes!

In the fullness of time,

in resurrection brilliance,

in promised victory!

Christ, the Conquer

exposed, defanged, declawed

the wolves,

Sin lost its power!

Death, its sting!

And phantoms put at bay!

Dawn broke. Christ arose!

The Good Shepherd lives

with rod and staff and powerful promises:

Fear not!

It is done, finished!

I will never leave you!

Sins forgiven! Shame erased!

Life everlasting!

Grace and Mercy abound

with an invitation to all!

Come.

Trust.

to the still waters and green pastures.

Ah, all shepherds, we

awed,

strong,

assured,

rejoicing,

at peace with God…

The darkness dispelled!

The wolves exposed!

Yet, like the shepherds, we …

waiting waiting, waiting,

for another dawn.

In the fullness of time

His is the Kingdom, and Power and Glory forever!

Like the shepherds, we …

anxious, waiting,

wrapped in Bethlehem’s darkness

listening for circling wolves…

unseen, lurking, howling,

threatening, fearsome,

snarling…

imagined phantoms of

loss,

impossibilities,

hurt, grief, shame

terrifying death…

Like the shepherds we…

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting…

for the dawn.

Have we not hear the angel?

Fear not!

Immanuel!

God is here!

A Savior for all nation!

Redemption! Peace for our souls!

In the fullness of time…

In the stable darkness,

A glimmer of great grace!

A flicker of hope!

Light!

Would the light prevail through

the black, evil night

and hellish fury of

betrayal, agony, cruelty?

a cross?

a tomb?

death?

The flame flickered, dimmed.

The wolves returned!

Ferocious despair, doubt, confusion

Would, could, dawn dawn?

Yes! Yes!

In the fullness of time,

in resurrection brilliance,

in promised victory!

Christ, the Conquer

exposed, defanged, declawed

the wolves,

Sin lost its power!

Death, its sting!

And phantoms put at bay!

Dawn broke. Christ arose!

The Good Shepherd lives

with rod and staff and powerful promises:

Fear not!

It is done, finished!

I will never leave you!

Sins forgiven! Shame erased!

Life everlasting!

Grace and Mercy abound

with an invitation to all!

Come.

Trust.

to the still waters and green pastures.

Ah, all shepherds, we

awed,

strong,

assured,

rejoicing,

at peace with God…

The darkness dispelled!

The wolves exposed!

Yet, like the shepherds, we …

waiting waiting, waiting,

for another dawn.

In the fullness of time

His is the Kingdom, and Power and Glory forever!