Thanksgiving and Christmas,
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,
all arriving in this sudden segment
of life,
on days concluding school terms
or days beginning fresh times
as the calendars and clocks
carried in our hands
carry us, drag us,
as we breathe, barely,
frantically finding autumn
in passing, then winter,
in seasonal show of sudden shifts
amid our normalcy.
what can we do?
now, what can we do?
can we rest while time rushes by?
can we cherish more than the
food on plates and
lights on trees and
colors all around?
can we choose to glance back,
recalling a purpose for gatherings
during the rush?
turning minds backwards,
hearing tales told and stories read,
imagining sights and sounds,
within narratives of a Mary
and a Joseph, a baby,
angels and shepherds,
animals and mystery.
glancing again and again,
as we think back,
at the child.
a birth promised but impossible.
a birth with little room
but celebrated.
a birth in a setting of
weakness and poverty and
silence and noise and
no room and this room and
impossible and real and
remembered now.
now. here. in our hurry,
memories glancing back,
songs raising volume
in various languages and voices,
celebrating a belief seeming
impossible, a reality feeling
nearby, a baby believed
to give them all,
to give us all,
life.
This is one of Chris Maxwell’s new poems, and not included in the book. But please pick up a collection of many other poems he has written, which are in the book: A Slow and Sudden God: 40 years of Wonder.
[Chris Maxwell is an amazing man. He is a man of faith who is filled with the Holy Spirit. He has many hats. I can't keep up with them. He is on the faculty and staff at Emmanuel College as the director of spiritual life. He works with students and faculty. He is a walking disciple of encouragement and blessings as he meets students daily. He somehow knows how to show up in your life when you need him most. He is a tremendous blessing to me. I thank God for a man like Chris Maxwell who is making this Advent and Christmas season a glorious event of wonder and awe. I admire his spiritual gifts and talents. I hope you enjoy his poem as much as I have as I read it several times.]
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,
all arriving in this sudden segment
of life,
on days concluding school terms
or days beginning fresh times
as the calendars and clocks
carried in our hands
carry us, drag us,
as we breathe, barely,
frantically finding autumn
in passing, then winter,
in seasonal show of sudden shifts
amid our normalcy.
what can we do?
now, what can we do?
can we rest while time rushes by?
can we cherish more than the
food on plates and
lights on trees and
colors all around?
can we choose to glance back,
recalling a purpose for gatherings
during the rush?
turning minds backwards,
hearing tales told and stories read,
imagining sights and sounds,
within narratives of a Mary
and a Joseph, a baby,
angels and shepherds,
animals and mystery.
glancing again and again,
as we think back,
at the child.
a birth promised but impossible.
a birth with little room
but celebrated.
a birth in a setting of
weakness and poverty and
silence and noise and
no room and this room and
impossible and real and
remembered now.
now. here. in our hurry,
memories glancing back,
songs raising volume
in various languages and voices,
celebrating a belief seeming
impossible, a reality feeling
nearby, a baby believed
to give them all,
to give us all,
life.
This is one of Chris Maxwell’s new poems, and not included in the book. But please pick up a collection of many other poems he has written, which are in the book: A Slow and Sudden God: 40 years of Wonder.
[Chris Maxwell is an amazing man. He is a man of faith who is filled with the Holy Spirit. He has many hats. I can't keep up with them. He is on the faculty and staff at Emmanuel College as the director of spiritual life. He works with students and faculty. He is a walking disciple of encouragement and blessings as he meets students daily. He somehow knows how to show up in your life when you need him most. He is a tremendous blessing to me. I thank God for a man like Chris Maxwell who is making this Advent and Christmas season a glorious event of wonder and awe. I admire his spiritual gifts and talents. I hope you enjoy his poem as much as I have as I read it several times.]