The First Advent Candle…
Wow, do I love Advent! I was working on the reading for this Sunday from Isaiah 64:1-9 and moved into writing something to be read while we light that first candle…
On The Lighting of Advent’s First Candle
One candle, one small light.
It seems so insignificant a gesture,
Drowned in the darkness that surrounds us.
War, poverty, disease, the age old enemies
That seem to be the lasting bane,
Which steal hope generation after generation.
“Oh, look on us, we pray!”
We strain to see, but our eyes so often fail.
We hope to be seen, but our hearts so often fail.
We remember!
But we light that one candle.
We light that candle
And we try to wipe the sleep from our eyes…
We stand in the paradox of waiting
For that which we have already received.
We come again to a day of longing, a moment of renewal,
The presence of a single candle to recall us to the light.
Our own steps have too seldom chosen the brightened path.
We remember!
We light that one candle!
We defy the numbing pain and cast away the fatigue
That steals the strength and peace from our spirits.
We place ourselves in the hands of God,
We steady ourselves again, and we cry out,
“Oh, look on us, we pray!”
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