"Come, and Linger Awhile" by David Head

This week I won't be able to share my own thoughts, as has become traditional for each Sunday in Advent. I've been really busy finishing up the semester and helping with my church's Christmas Carol event. So instead, here is a poem:

 

Come, and Linger Awhile

by David Head of  Ponder Anew

Come, and linger awhile

with ancient prophets who hear whispers of a

wonder they will never see, a

wisdom beyond  their understanding

and that their words can never fully express…

and yet that they believe in hope.

Come, and linger awhile

near a simple virgin girl who is

overwhelmed when an angel announces

(with terrible calm) that she will be

overshadowed by the Most High and bear a Son Who will

reign over all people and all things for all time.

Come, and linger awhile

through the restless night of a grizzled carpenter who was

shocked by the seeming betrayal of love’s sweetness,

reassured when an angel appeared in his dreams, and

stunned into faith that the Son His beloved carried would

save people from their sins.

Come, and linger awhile

in a shepherd’s night-darkened field,  at first

muffled in the ordinary quiet of snores and sheep sleep,

awakened by one angel, a messenger blazing with Glory, joined by

resounding songs & shouts of an angel battalion bringing

good news of great joy to all people.

Come, and linger awhile

by a rough feeding trough in a dead-end stable, where a

Baby lies, God’s glory in skin, proof that

Love arrives, heaven in our broken world, and from there

Hope eyes the promise of peace, joy, life forever.

So, this Christmas…

Come and linger awhile with Jesus.

Be breathlessly quiet,

kneel amazed, awestruck and grateful,

wonder-full and captivated by

Mercy in a manger.

Come…

and linger awhile.