Advent
An Advent World Cup
Advent reassessed
I’m-not sure we’ve got Advent entirely right
In-a-culture where its meaning has slipped out of sight
If it signifies-just chocolate and calendar doors
Then it’s time to revisit it, slow down, and press pause;
We think of this season as cosy and pretty
It’s anything but, it’s surprisingly gritty
Maybe it’ll help us to view it afresh
If we see how its themes with the world are enmeshed
With-what’s going on right now, this moment, right here
A world marked by violence and anguish and fear…
Think of people who-are sinking under spiralling costs
I think of Mary and Joseph, in a census town lost
Price of living, eat or heating, the clamour and din
I picture them struggling, ‘no room at the inn’
And when I see tyrants, their bitter seed sow
I remember God’s promise to-bring the proud ones so low
The only way I can handle the horrors of war
Is remembering that the mercy and grace-of-God are sure
‘Woman, life, freedom’, when I hear that brave cry
I-think how God honoured Mary – and the humble, lifted high
Even the World Cup, stirring frail hopes and dreams
Makes me think of a hope that is greater, and streams…
Of justice, that bubble in the desert, and flow
Cos God’s longing to love us and bless us you know
So don’t imagine Advent is cosy or tame
It’s fierce and it’s fearless – it won’t leave you the same
Image by Amber Clay from Pixabay
Advent poem
In the deepening twilight, of a waning year
Hopeful yet mysterious, ‘Advent’ now appears
See the hurried shoppers, in the settling gloom
Of a dark December, tell me is there room
In our imaginations, at the very least
To see behind the bustle, a different kind of feast
Shops a little sparser now, usually overflowing
Still our souls are thirsting, yearning, little knowing
In the midst of credit cards, and debt, and money spent
Where the true source lies of peace and joy and deep content
December now grows pregnant, rising expectation
Dreams, desires and fragile hopes, permeate a nation
Yet behind the gaudy mess, a different hope prevails
A light that breaks upon the heart, a joy that never fails
Could it be, that birth long buried in the mists of time
Still retains its power to captivate your heart and mine?
What would happen if we paused, a moment stilled our thoughts
Might this child yet prove to be, the treasure that we sought?
Broadcast on BBC Radio Leeds, Guernsey & Sussex/Surrey, and Premier Christian Radio
It’s Difficult this Christmas
It’s difficult this Christmas
Its meaning still to see,
Wondering what kind of end
Of year this one will be.
It’s harder now, when loved ones
We cannot so easily meet,
To trust the deeper Love –
It seems this year a tougher feat.
It’s harder when our wider culture
Yearly holds less dear
The startling news, that in a baby
God himself drew near.
To see beyond the stress –
And press of gaudy TV show,
Hard for the world to see
When it so little wants to know.
Not easy either in the dark
The solitude and space
Of my own heart, to catch a glimpse
Of that shy agent, grace.
Yet even when uncertainty
And fear close in like night
The Christ-child who in secret came
Still sheds abroad his light.
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
Audio:
Hand upon the Window
Your hand upon the window, and my hand mirrors yours,
In the midst of this year’s tragedy
This image gives us pause.
Your hand upon the window,
We saw but could not touch,
I’m not sure anything could quite prepare us all for such…
Such sadness and confusion,
The longing and the pain,
Fearful whether we could ever hug or touch again.
My strong desire to hold you
The rules would not allow,
Our bodies, such a precious gift
Are dangerous for now.
Hope is slowly taking shape,
The promise that next year
We can once more live and breathe
More freely, without fear.
Like distant glowing train lights,
A vaccine hope that then
We’ll once more have the chance to hold
Each other close again.
And so now, facing you
I to the window press my hand
And hope that of your pain I may
A small part understand.
And as that greater Love
In secret, close to us once drew
I pray you’ll know this love
Now drawing closer still to you.
For BBC Radio Leeds & other stations.
Audio:
A Different Christmas
It’s gonna be different this Christmas
No matter who you are or where you will be
There’s no way it can be just the usual
Family, friends – and a tree.
It’s gonna be different this Christmas
It may not be normal, or white
Still special if we can remember
In the darkness, it speaks now of light.
You may sing, pray… or you may struggle
To sign up to a God up above
But one thing we all have in common
Is our need for connection and love.
Christmas tells us something amazing
When science and philosophy pall
There’s a mystery and wonder in the universe
A deep love at the heart of it all.
The thing about this love at Christmas
Though it’s huge and encompasses all
Is God chose to reveal it to all of us
By becoming both humble and small.
A baby, and though it’s so long ago
That the miracle of Christmas did start
It’s real and it’s present, I can know this love now
Taking time, making room, in my heart.
For Riviera Radio & other stations.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Audio:
Where are you this Advent?
Where are you this Advent,
In yourself I mean, deep down
Are you struggling or contented
Do you smile inside, or frown?
Where are you this Advent,
Is it hard or going well?
Do you feel that life’s progressing
Or declining, can you tell?
Where are you this Advent,
Do you ask, what does it mean?
Ever wonder, is there more
Behind it all, something unseen?
Where are you this Advent,
See nature – beauty there
Could it be within it
Lies a quality of care?
Where are you this Advent,
As we seek the ones we love
Could there be a loving Presence
Deep within, around, above?
Where are you this Advent,
Could you possibly believe
In the baby, God among us
A gift, to be received?
(for BBC Radio Leeds & other stations)
Audio:
Image by Pezibear at Pixabay.com
A Bruce moment 