The Advent Wind

 

 

One frosty morning

An Advent wind

Called me outside

Into the pre-dawn darkness

 

It wasn’t a stormy wind

But it was strong 

And determined

In those early morning 

Shadows

 

So I went out 

In the darkness

And stood

Still

 

The Advent wind 

Sang to me

Danced around me 

Tasseled my hair 

Caressed my cheeks 

Kissed my eyelids 

Whispered to my heart

“Stay”

 

But I didn’t stay

 

The Advent wind 

Called to me again

And I returned

As the sky grew lighter 

And lighter

And I could see clearly 

The images around me

 

I noticed the trees

Holding tightly

To the last leaves

The last berries

The last remnants

Of warm days

Before the deep

Cold slumber of winter

Descended upon the earth

With stark silence

And dreams

 

But I did not stay. 

 

One more time 

The Advent wind called to me and bid me 

To breathe

And listen

 

The wind smelled

Of snow

And sounded

Urgent

 

The Advent wind 

Told me to keep watching 

To keep waiting

Until I find 

What I am seeking

Until what I am seeking

Finds me

And then

To watch and wait

Some more

 

I wondered

 

What am I seeking

What is seeking me

Is it justice and hope

Is it mercy and love

Is it grace and peace 

Is it the end

Of war and violence

Of hunger and pain

Of want and ignorance

 

Is it the beginning 

Of something

That I cannot yet 

Imagine

But for which

I am yearning

 

I wonder still

Another year from last

The Advent wind

Calls to me

As it does

Year after year

This time

The sound is

Low and soft

A weary whisper

As if it is tired of

Reminding Us

That all is not lost

That we can still 

Watch and wait and seek

Reminding Us

That the Light does 

Shine

In the darkness

Reminding Us

That

Emmanuel

God with us

Does not mean

God alone