Advent: Hope (against all odds--) and a poem




It's Sunday morning, still pretty dark out, and it's 19 degrees. A light coating of snow covers all the messy bits still, and we are expecting some mixed precipitation later today. In fact, it's already spitting snow, so I think they may have the forecast right. 

After church and breakfast, I will buckle down and grade the stack of papers I brought home. I've put it off-- classic procrastination-- and it must get done. We have a three-and-change stretch of time before the next holiday break, and I do not want anything lingering. I want a real break. So do the students, I'm quite sure, but with all of the start-and-stops, we are a little behind. We'll see what we can knock out over the next few weeks. I wouldn't worry about it so much, but the reality is, when we get back, we'll have just about three weeks left, and the semester ends. For all that it has felt like a slog at times, it's going to be like a rocket on rails now. 

So how to relax through this preparation time? Advent begins today. The first candle signifies Hope. And friends, hope is hard to come by these days. Reading the news feed is a toxic affair, and every day the actions of much of the "power that be" seem to get worse, more craven, more cruel, more despicable. How do we find Hope? It seems like it's a hard decision, hoping, but it's critically necessary. Against all odds, Hope is the only weapon we truly have, if it's rooted in faith, love, and charity. 

Here's a favorite poem of mine by Christina Rossetti. I particularly love the musical version as done by James Taylor. 

I hope you have a wonderful day. Cherish your loved ones. Keep them safe. 

C


A Christmas Carol

By Christina Rossetti
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

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