Fourth Candle, Lit and Lovely

a meditation for Advent

NOTE: Today’s poem and meditation is from my original Advent devotional, Pilgrim God.

Photo by George Hiles on Unsplash

wherever you are
in woods
or waves
or valley
or peak,
look for the Light;

it throws each silhouette
into sharp relief,
turning a muddle 
into clarity, 
doubt to hope;

it draws the psalm
of glorious gratitude
from your wide
and wondering
soul. 

Oh Light! Oh Love!

Fourth candle lit and lovely, and this telling of the Old Story draws near its end. Oh Life, sun returning, little baby on His way to Bethlehem in the womb of his mother, the swirling cells and stars around Him like a crown. Oh, Mother! Oh, Father! Oh hope, born in the strangest place. Who would ever look there? Can anything good come from such a little place, such a simple place? A little barn in a backyard. So plain!

Oh Love, fourth candle lit and lovely, oh angels dancing around this flame! 

Oh Pilgrim, before the Feast, please tell us the story again: silent night and herald angels. Please! Tell us how You were born to her, the little faith-filled Mary and the carpenter, good Joseph. Tell us the Story again, and let us hear it rightly. Let us miss nothing. Let us see it again, the way it really was. Let us see the silent creatures, warm breath stirring Your infant hair. Let us feel the chill. Please, tell us again!

When You climbed down from the swirling stars and fell into the womb, when You emerged and no one knew Your Name. When You walked again upon the paths of the earth You had made. Pilgrim, tell us again!

The Feast draws near. 

Fourth candle lit and lovely. 

Oh Light! Oh Love!

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