Advent reading from my new book :)

Wow, what happened to the time?  Look away for a second, and it's Advent! School is out in a few weeks, and then the long trek to California to visit.

Since we are waiting for the birth of the Savior, I thought I'd share a reading from my book "Biblical Portraits", coming soon to a e-reader near you!  This one is called "Advent"

Advent

Reflection on our Lord's coming

We started out together

Walking hand in hand

In love with the Father of Love

Surrounded by all good things

And in perfect peace.

We wanted for nothing,

For everything was provided us

By One who loved us more than we could possibly imagine.

You know how the story goes.

The snake, the fruit, the disobedience,

The betrayal of trust...

Our lives would never be the same,

And our hearts would forever need to be filled

In ways that we could not even begin to imagine.

We tried so many different things,

Countless aids to ease the hurt,

Yet all we did was intensify the pain,

Cause the loneliness to overwhelm us,

So that the darkness seemed to be all-encompassing.

Yet, somehow, we knew that there was an answer

Somewhere

A beacon was shining in the night

Somewhere

A lantern lifted high,

Dispelling the darkness,

Somewhere.

We did not know how

Or even if

We were to search for it.

Maybe it would seek us out

Find us in our grief

Our pain

Our loneliness

The hideous blackness of our being

The opaqueness in which we lived.

And so we wait

Caught in the void between hope and despair

And even without being aware of it,

We pray.

O you who caused the light to shine all around us

Who permitted us to walk hand in hand with you

Who chose us as your children

Who desired our companionship

Who did nothing to lose our love

And everything to merit our respect,

Come unto us

Dwell once again among us.

Cause us to see your light blaring in the darkness

So that we can finally come home.