Boxing Day 2024

First Coming

by Madeleine L’Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,

till men and nations were at peace.

He came when the Heavens were unsteady,

and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.

He came when the need was deep and great.

He dined with sinners in all their grime,

turned water into wine.

He did not wait till hearts were pure.

In joy he cameto a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame

he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made Flesh

the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,

for to share our grief, to touch our pain,

He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice! I took a walk around our nearby marsh. This part of the marsh always reminds me of Lewis's wood between the worlds. It seems to have a presence. Today, the water was so still, and the reflections were so clear that it felt even more like a place of portals to other worlds.

The light was beautiful at this time of day, and the clouds were a soft golden just where they grazed the horizon.

All through the marsh, the loud croaking of frogs and songs from several kinds of birds were echoing. The trilling song of the red winged blackbird was especially loud and beautiful. It was a good day to be quiet in the woods.