Twas the eve before Christmas 
And all through the church,
The pastor was frantic
When he stopped with a lurch!
“What’s wrong with this picture?”
Out loud, he did ask.
Why am I so frantic,
And so bound up with each task?
Though worthy each one,
And all have their place,
Have I joined the many
Caught in the rat race
Of buying and doing
And getting things done
That I’ve completely forgotten
To remember the One
Whose advent and coming
Gives us joy, peace and hope
To lose sight of that focus
Just makes me a dope!
Yet how easy, he sighed,
To fall to distraction,
For our world seems to think
Life is all in the action
Of running and doing
And buying and betting
Of striving and wanting;
Yet completely forgetting
That peace is not found
With more and more stuff;
Nor joy gained by all of
Our bluster and bluff.
How wise were the shepherds,
Those humble poor folk
Who just prayed at the manger,
Then went forth and spoke
Of the wondrous things
God showed them that night:
Angels a-singing and glory beheld
The hills ablaze with pure holy light,
A message of wonder Gabriel told
A messiah born as promised of old.
Or think of the magi, come from afar
Following the leading of that holy star.
No distance too great,
No challenge too daunting,
Not Herod’s devises nor
The skeptic’s snide taunting.
They steadfastly followed
The star’s heavenly leading
Till they found the child in whom
Earth finds all perfect meaning.
The shepherds and magi
Worshipped in awe
At the glory of God’s love
Asleep on the straw.
O for wisdom like them
To gather in joy
And worship before
Mary and Joseph’s wee boy,
Who was God’s own Son
Sent to this earth
To bring us rich grace
That flows from his worth.
So come one and all,
Who long for such love
Come bow at the manger
Of Christ from above.
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