Death and Life ...Again

Last year (see post on 12/12/2008) on 12/5 my 30 yr old nephew died. This year (2009) on 12/13 my dad died. How does one integrate death with the Christmas season? It is a natural part of the cycle of life we all know. But when it hits home its not such an intellectual discussion. I actually contemplated the manger in Church and I could feel the joy of Jesus' birth. Our church has a very large crucifix suspended from the ceiling. I couldn't focus on that b/c the pain was too much. It was much more comfortable to look at a newborn baby... a smiling Savior.

Jesus, be born in my heart please so that I may gently give birth to you in my world.

Psalm of an Emerging Emmanuel

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,”
I pray with upraised eyes.
Drop down, O Dew of Heaven,
That God might walk and talk on earth,
Might heal and feed our sin-soaked world.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
My prayer like searchlights
Comb the starry winter skies.
Descend from the black hole
of some neighboring galaxy
to green with your grace
our barren earth.
Such an Advent waiting prayer
can be a lifelong profession of patient longing,
unless I know, with all my heart,
that Emmanuel not only comes down
but also comes forth and emerges.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
Come forth from deep within me
With Christmas luminous beauty.
For my heart has become the sacred crib,
The birthing place of God-among-us.
Peace on earth and justice for all
Will only become manifest in our lives
When enough of our sons and daughters
Awaken to your divine design
That has made each of us
an emerging Emmanuel.
From Psalms for Sacred Seasons