Almost Christmas

Eating sweets
Probably too many
But who cares right now.

Shooing the cat
Away from the tree.
She eats it and makes messes.

Joking about secrets
Especially with those
Who hate surprises.

Making food
More food than I'll eat
But someone else will.

I think it's almost Christmas


Singing carols
Maybe off key
But who cares right now

Bringing friends
In to our home
A joyous time together.

The name of Jesus
On every lip
In every store and song and life.

Eyes glowing in the
Advent light
So pure and beautiful and bright.

It must be almost Christmas.

Colors of Christmas

Red

Streams everywhere

Decorating trees and lights and lampposts

The color of flowers and hats

The color of blood

Shed for us

The color of love.

Green

Evergreen branch

Makes trees and garland and centerpieces

The color of leaves and twigs

The color of life

Given to us

The color of eternity.

Gold

Ribbons twirl

Shines in every light and star and dangle

The color of laughter and jewelry

The color of perfection

Brought to us

The color of a King.

Blue

Icicles drip

Paints skies and trees and fingertips

The color of dresses and ice

The color of angels

Call goodwill

The color of peace.

White

Snow sparkles

Powders houses and yards and nativities

The color of clean and bright

The color of light

Shines out

The color of joy.

Silent Night?

"Silent night,"
You murmur as harried shoppers
Bustle past you
Worrying about presents.
"Is it really?"
You stroke the beautiful
Fragile gifts.
Fragile gifts to heal fragile relationships.

You pass through churches
Filled with the same stress as
Harried shoppers.
"Holy night?"
What's so holy
About the strain and stress.

There's no snow tonight
And it does nothing to heal your
Confused soul.
But the biting winds fight your path.
A little child tugs on your sleeve.
Her mother frets
Her father worries
But her wide eyes are filled with wonder.
"Merry Christmas!"
Her little voice chirrups.

You kneel before her,
The wind no longer cold.
"Merry Christmas. It's a joyful
New Year, is it not?"
She smiles, suddenly shy,
But it's enough.
You brush the boughs of a
Christmas tree
And the radio plays songs
Of Christ's coming.
"Stille Nacht."
You murmur.
"It is really."

On this glorious Christmas Eve
Surrounded by the candlelight
And the peaceful faces
In the beauty of the little church,
You breathe deeply.
"Heilige Nacht."
Such a holy night.

World of Dreams

You can stand before thousands
Singing with a voice like breathy clouds
Play a melody like earth has not beheld
Dance like the wind lights your steps
Speak with power and might.

Or you can fade into history
Unnamed, like the whispering wind that fades.
Unknown, like the little stray cat.
Fragile, like the butterfly that flits around your head
Fading, like the wildflowers that wilt in your arms.

But my dream is for this,
To fade away into history,
But like the wind, tickle a hair to draw a laugh
But like the little cat, bring comfort when tears flow down
But like the butterfly, spark curiosity
But like the wildflowers, bring joy for their brightness.

New Life

She was scared.
She was lonely.
Her heart was breaking in two,
But she had to smile.
She could cry
When she was alone,
But now,
She had to smile.
To lie.

But He lifted her,
His gentle hand
Wiped the tears away.
“You’re not alone.”
Were the blessed words on his lips.
 “I love you.” 
He gently kissed her stained,
Broken hand,
A hand covered in the ashes,
Dirt,
And shame
Of a thousand wrongs.
And as she left
The dirt and pain,
He made her beautiful
In His radiance.
She leaned on Him
And realized
She could stand.
She fell to her knees
Before Him
And found herself
Raised
In new life.
She released the black
Darkness inside her
And was filled
With light from Him alone.

Seasons

Little birds
Chirping from their little nests.
Blossoms and flowers
Everywhere.
All things are new.

Little children
Laughing in their little swings.
Growth and life
Everywhere.
All things are growing.

Little leaves
Fall from their little trees.
Colors and beauty
Everywhere.
All things are changing.

Little icicles
Drip from their little eaves.
Crisp and cold
Everywhere.
All things are bright.

Clearly

Clearly
I see now.
Not through these shattered,
Dirty lenses.
It's strange.
I've never seen clearly.
I've always seen through my
Brokenness.
Shattered lenses manipulate
Every view.
But now, it's as if
My eyes are healed.
I don't needed my brokenness.

But it's so hard to release.
You don't understand.
I hurt, and I can't let go.
It's the kind of pain
You get attached to.
Like slicing into your arm
But instead it's your soul.

Light still hurts my eyes
Seeing without the damper
Of brokenness.
But I realize it cleanses me
It heals me.
Someday I'll see
Clearly.