Tuesday, December 14

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
—Micah 5:2

I have disregarded
angels singing in the pines
and stopped my ears
to hush their hallelujahs.
I have not heard their flight
or felt them as they
stirred beside me.
Here beyond the reach of light,
there is no star,
no stable, manger filled with straw.
There is no band of shepherds,
gathering in awe around an infant.
There is only intimation,
hints, perhaps, of incarnation.
In this silence,
I will be as still
as winter wood in ice
until some new annunciation
sounds upon my chilled soul
and stirs me.
Word made flesh,
you fall upon my deafness
like the weight of one who walks on snow.
You echo unexpected
through my night.
And I, a world removed from Bethlehem,
await your next nativity. 

O God, as we once again wait for the Savior’s birth, make our hearts ready for your incarnation in us.

These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2004.