In the Christian calendar December 3rd marks the first Sunday of Advent. This is a season of preparation , a season of waiting, a season of hoping, a season of expectation. Today in our war torn world many people and nations wait, hope and expect something better than the present. Those of us in the Christian tradition will send greetings to family and friends. If we send "Christmas cards" the choices are many as to the image of the card. A Christmas tree, a village church covered in snow, robins amidst the snow, stars, angels, mother and child, wisemen and camels. Many year ago I commented while leading worship that my favorite cards depicted the story of the "wisemen" and for years following members of that congregation sent me cards bearing that image! As Advent begins I turn to Scott Cairns and his poem Nativity. Scott's faith tradition is Orthodox and within that tradition icons have an important place as devotional and meditative aids. Scott does not specifically identify the icon he has in mind when he writes his poem so we are left to use our imagination. The photo above is used as a suggestion and a hint as to what he has in mind, it does not contain all that the poems speaks about! Please read the poem aloud to hear all its sounds, especially in those opening lines "wrapped and rapt" Don't miss swaddle and tightly bound, or holds, beholds, and beholden, crux, cave, and womb. Pay attention to the way the poem is written, those line breaks are critical. Delight in this poem and allow your imagination to paint an icon and be prepared to wait, during this season of Advent.
Nativity
As you lean in, you'll surely apprehend
the tiny God is wrapped
in something more than swaddle. The God
is tightly bound within
His blesséd mother's gaze—her face declares
that she is rapt by what
she holds, beholds, reclines beholden to.
She cups His perfect head
and kisses Him, that even here the radiant
compass of affection
is announced, that even here our several
histories converge and slip,
just briefly, out of time. Which is much of what
an icon works as well,
and this one offers up a broad array
of separate narratives
whose temporal relations quite miss the point,
or meet there. Regardless,
one blithe shepherd offers music to the flock,
and—just behind him—there
he is again, and sore afraid, attended
by a trembling companion
and addressed by Gabriel. Across the ridge,
three wise men spur three horses
towards a star, and bowing at the icon's
nearest edge, these same three
yet adore the seated One whose mother serves
as throne. Meantime, stumped,
the kindly Abba Joseph ruminates,
receiving consolation
from an attentive dog whose master may
yet prove to be a holy
messenger disguised as fool. Overhead,
the famous star is all
but out of sight by now; yet, even so,
it aims a single ray
directing our slow pilgrims to the core
where all the journeys meet,
appalling crux and hallowed cave and womb,
where crouched among these other
lowing cattle at their trough, our travelers
receive that creatured air, and pray. Scott Cairns: Slow Pilgrim
Prayer:
We ask that You O Lord,
will teach us how to
wait, watch, and wonder.
We wait for your Coming
yet know that You are ever present.
We watch for your presence
not just in one starry night
but in the ordinariness of every day.
We wonder about the mystery and majesty
of Your Spirit O Lord that touches us
and brings us to life,
day and night,
night and day.
In the manger of our own hearts
be born and be present in ways
that bring to life all that is good and godly.
Walk with us toward Christmas.
Walk ahead of us and call our name.
Walk beside us and save us from being lost. Amen.
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