it’s hard to
know

what to
believe

there’s a
story flying round the town

that the
Messiah’s been born

here in
Bethlehem

right here

in this very
town they say

of angels

and dazzling
stars

and choirs
in the sky

here

in Bethlehem

the town’s
bursting at the seams

with this
stupid census

and no-one
else

not one
single person

seems to
have heard or seen

this
‘heavenly announcement’

maybe the
wine’s been flowing

a little too
freely

at all those
family reunions

it’s certainly
got folks talking

they say it
started

with a group
of shepherds

spreading
the news

what a group
of misfits and rogues they are

it has to be
a hoax

born in
Bethlehem?

and a bunch
of ragamuffin shepherds

the first to
hear the news?

it seemed

as if the heavy
weight of her weariness

melted into
the straw

as her
exhausted body

surrendered
itself

to the
makeshift bed

that Joseph
had fashioned

was here

of unimaginable

relief and
joy

washed over
her and through her

like an
all-consuming tidal wave

what the
future held

she knew she
could trust

her Adonai

to his
purposes

and he

had
delivered on his promise

and a
million unanswerable questions

through the
discomfort

and after
pains

of
childbirth

in the total
unknowing

of what came
next

the whole
weight of her tired body

settled into
the straw

and utter
joy

flooded her
senses

she thought

according to
your Word

.

I held his gaze
for a lifetime

eternity
compressed within a second

eyes locked
in unspoken pain
and understanding

recognition
of a calling
too high
to walk away from
whatever
the excruciating cost

I knew about calling

and the cost of his
couldn’t have been higher

with every nerve in my body
I felt the inevitability of it

every
twist and turn
of the journey
every road
from the stable to now
had been leading
towards this path
propelling me
into this sword piercing pain
the agony
of watching him
steadily walk
towards his certain death

apology
love
fear
broken dreams
a lifetime of emotion
filled the air between us

we dare not let ourselves
come close
for fear
the nearness would break us
our love for each other
draw him away
from the call

I busied myself
bit my lip
got on with the difficult business
of being ordinary

this was the day

the hour
had nearly come

early in the morning
he rose to pray

slipped away
from the twelve

and watching
the gentle, soft light
of dawn
infuse the edges of the clouds
with brightness

he whispered

however you want this day
to unfold

let it be

let your glory
shine

John 15.4

abide in me

remain
in my love
let me hold you
enfold you
comfort you
nurture you
create in you
all that you might be

dwell
in my presence

rest there
remain there
abide

let me shower you with
blessing upon blessings
let me circle you
wash over you
cascade my love upon you

remain
in my love

abide

1 John 4.13-16

I am the complete expression
of love
greater by far
more consistent
than any other love
you’ll ever know
than any other love
that’s ever warmed
and touched your heart

imagine that
I am the complete expression of love
in all its fullness
love
as it was designed to be
wonderful
sustaining
forgiving
serving
perfect, perfect love

and I long to overwhelm you
with that love
to lavish it upon you
to swamp you with it
hold you in it
never
let you go

open your heart
to receive

there are no conditions
it’s all
for you
whatever you’ve done
whatever others
have done to you
however you’re feeling
right now
it’s all for you

open your heart
to receive

Ephesians 3.14-21

beyond my deepest need
or highest hope

able to encompass
and restore
all humankind

endless
stupendous
enfolding
upholding

astounding reach of love
at one with me

surrounding
indwelling
healing
empowering

the source of all that is
and all I am

forgiving
renewing
nurturing
enabling

drawing out potential
for the call

beyond me
within me
limitless
yet personal

seeing
all that’s needed for my life

loving
always loving
infinitely loving

loving
with a love that says

let’s dance

who
is this man?

miracle maker
healer
shaker of the status quo

carpenter from Nazareth
or more than that?

who is this ordinary
extraordinary man?

freedom fighter
truth teller
charismatic Saviour

or simply
son of Mary?

who is
this enigmatic man?

challenger
disturber
compassionate one

confronter
forgiver

befriender of thieves

soul shaper
peacemaker
peace breaker?

unlike any other
and yet so much
like everyman

who
can he be?

rule breaker
covenant maker

lover
teacher
friend

divinity
embodied through humanity?

who exactly is
this special man?

and who is he

for me?