"in your words, I find a precious gift..."

As Love's wellspring of inspiration is finding its saturation point...deeper and deeper within the bedrock of this fathomless stillness...I have found such joy in sharing what has already found its voice...on this blog, and through the writings of some of my dearest friends.

Their very beautiful and inspired posts have, over the years, brought me to my knees in humility, found me doubled over with laughter, caught me smiling with delight, and left me weeping in amazement at their experiences...and the grace with which they have shared them with us. 

So, with their permission, I am delighted to be able to share some of these holiday "favorites" with you... and, if you look carefully over this next month, you might find a couple of my older pieces, like simple threads of cotton, woven between their strands of gold...

lovingly,

Kate

"Christmas ponderings and dawnings...."

by Joni Overton-Jung

My dog Kosi and I were out walking in the crisp winter air last night. Though I'll admit I have my struggles with winter sometimes, it was one of those nights when the sky is so clear, the air so fresh, everything speaks of the imminence, nowness, grandeur, joy of life. I found myself thinking, I love winter. I thought of my brother's visit last year and his recent comment, "I do remember the joy of feeling the breath, and I mean the long deep breath of winter. The ponderous throw of time, huddled in."

The breath, the life, the certainty, clarity, urgency of it all pressing in upon us, or perhaps embracing, sustaining, compelling, lifting, illumining.

This poem and carol by Phillips Brooks to me captures the pure power of Christmas–where in the deep, hidden, innermost places of our hearts we find our longings answered, hopes fulfilled, and the quiet, inevitable emergence of a spiritual peace, an undiminished innocence, a soaring exaltation of unfettered life.

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given;
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meekness will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

In an article on Christmas MB Eddy says this, "The star that looked lovingly down on the manger of our Lord, lends its resplendent light to this hour: the light of Truth to cheer, guide, and bless man as he reaches forth for the infant idea of divine perfection dawning upon human imperfection,–that calms man's fears, bears his burdens, beckons him on to Truth and Love and the sweet immunity these bring from sin, sickness, and death. "

The light of that star in this very hour–the stars, the air, everything alive pulsing with the imminence of Truth–embracing, propelling, cheering, guiding, blessing, a showering of praise, a benediction of love,  a message of: you, each, each and every single one of you are beloved, My beloved.

In this intense season of hopes, yearnings, fears, and extravagant giving, may each one of us make room for the dawning of something simple, holy, shining, the light of the infinite whispering, comforting, nurturing, igniting the embers of our essential and magnificent lives.

copyright - Joni Overton-Jung 2009

Here is Sara McLachlan, performing one of my favorite versions of the classic carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," which Joni references the lyrics to in her post....thank you Joni for sharing this lovely piece. always,

Kate
Kate

"how silently, how silently..."

"how silently
how silently
the wondrous gift
is given..."

I hope you enjoy Sarah MacLachlan's rendition of "O Little Town of Bethlehem."  I was praying with these lyrics tonight and realized how "low, sad, and sweet" its message is. 

An expectant mother...a foreigner, in the throes of childbirth...finds no welcome at the inn.  The village is bustling with travelers who have come for the tax season.  The only place to find rest and domicile is a stable.  The only cradle, a manger, where a heavenly host of sheep, cows, and goats take their hay and grain each morning.  

I often think about this place, this Bethlehem.  A night so dark that a star can blaze a trail for kings, shepherds, wisemen, and angels.  Streets that were full of travelers, become still and silent.  There is a hush over the earth as a child of promise is born to the soft lowing of cattle, the lullabies of angels, the hosannas of shepherds, and the weeping of kings. 

I want to be there.  I try to carve out that space in my heart...where a dusty village becomes a sacred sanctuary, and the promise of peace is born among the simple, rough edged moments of my day...navigating traffic, folding laundry, mending socks (yes, I still do that...I like darning...).

Here is the poem that hushed my heart tonight:

there is a stillness
here.
it sings below
the din
of revelrie,
and
the noise of
want.
it is something so
deep,
it
has no color.
it is so vast,
it has
no bottom.
it is so
broad,
it has no
borders.

this is the space
where a
a baby is born
in a manger,
surrounded by
singing stars,
and cooing
kings,
and shepherds
whispering
wisdom
to wisemen...

this is the place,
where a
soldier is the
one with great faith,
the
servant is 
king,
a mother teaches
the master,
the stranger
is a hero...

and women "of
question"
bring
hope to humanity,
a message of
forgiveness
to the Pharisee,
and the
news of a
risen Savior
to sorrowing
disciples

this is the
place of
paradox
this is the silent
sanctuary of
earnest longings
that go
unspoken...but
not unheard.

this is the place where
the darkness is filled
with light,
enemies clasp
hands,
and a nobleman
celebrates
the
simple
story
of
a
fool...one
who
gives a
cup of cool water
to the
prince
and
discovers
that in his hands
is
the
holy grail.

this is the place
where
God and men
do meet,
where blind men see,
sinners become healers,
and the tempted are
fed by angels in the wilderness.
it
is
the place
where the dove
closes her
faltering wings...
sighing
over a new born
earth.

and and it is the
place...in your heart,
where the
innocence of Life,
the babe of Soul,
the child of Spirit,
the
infant son of
an unwed mother is
sent today,
to 
be called...
Wonderful,
Counsellor,
the Mighty God,
the everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace....

I love these moments in the darkness of winter's short days.  When the night sky calls us into deeper reflection and the stars remind us to wait in wonder.  In this space of a young father's hope and a new mother's expectancy....

"...how silently,
how silently,
the wondrous gift
is given.
So God imparts
to human hearts
the
blessing
of His
heaven...."

...right here, right now...on earth.

with Love,

Kate
Kate Robertson, CS