Advent 1

Dashing through the snow seems a million miles away,

As Christmas creeps closer; our festive deadline day.

High street calls cajole us to show our love with cash

To demonstrate our Christmas cheer with chintzy corporate trash.

I dare and hope that this does more than fuel the economy

That love shines through the well wished gift, given from you to me.

But how deep must we delve to seek that shining light?

How far would we search to see it shining bright?

To cast our eye through history’s haze, to track eternal truth,

To know a love that liberates and is redemption’s proof.

A hope foretold by ancient seers, and spread throughout the years,

Lived out in lives, which lingered long, by Israel’s pioneers.

These patriarchs of ancient times who knew the name of God,

Who’s journey home began its trace west of the Land of Nod.

They left behind security, stepped out in faith and trust,

The zenith of creation’s art, hewn out of love and dust.

These faithful few living life under divine direction,

Knowing his bountiful blessing and precious protection,

Would demonstrate our purposed pattern in how they lived their life,

To live under God’s gracious rule through blessing and through strife.

For home itself is not rooted in place, possession or plan,

But in the act of trusting God committed by a man.

So in the midst of all the rushing, the stuffing and the fussing,

Slow your steps to know the joy of God’s richest blessing.

Given and poured out on you since time began to turn,

Given freely, beyond the scope which we could ever earn,

A gift so much more than the high street’s, hot air promises,

Given to all people, in all times and in all provinces.

So turn your eyes beyond the shelves and wait for Christ to come

And we’ll walk with faithful patriarchs as we leave our sin filled slum.

For heaven is our home and we turn on Christmas day

To journey hand in hand with Christ, laughing all the way.