It’s been an interesting Advent journey this year.
As I said the first week, I’ve spent much of the latter half of 2019 thinking about Fear; hence, my Advent poetry became a continuation of those meditations.
I spoke of how Hope can feel so much like Fear; but, if we heed it, Hope will shake us out of our “safe” drowsiness.
We were thankful for Peace, soothing us as Hope continues its necessarily discomfiting work.
I remembered that Joy beats Fear in every one-on-one match.
We saw how Love is the fulfillment of all waiting and the final answer to any Fear.
Now, at last, we come to Christmas Eve.
I tried to bring all four weeks together in this sonnet. It may seem a bit discordant, but remember the thruline:
Emmanuel.
God with us.
Each week in Advent is just an opportunity to prepare for the main event.
What is the main event? The last line of the sonnet makes it clear:
Merry Christmas, friends.
Christmas Eve 2019
And this is Christmas: not that we can learn
The secret to ignoring all our fear
To slap a pious bandage on each burn
To fake a merry laugh for every tear
We cannot sit in fear and call it Hope
Mistaking anxious musings for true sight
Nor strangle mercy with a traitor’s rope
Disguised as Peace-knit blankets ’gainst the night
We must not mimic Joy with gaudy smiles
Nor, frowning, hum along with fear’s grim dirge
Instead, reject control’s seductive wiles
Forget “Self” in Love’s liberating purge
Fear-prisoners, seeking light this holy eve
THIS IS CHRISTMAS: Behold the Lamb. Receive.
It was not discordant at all, but VERY eloquently written! Thanks for sharing and have a Merry Christmas. Praying that 2020 is the best year ever for you!
No discord here! Lead on to the LIGHT!!