Advent Poem
December 23, 2022
DARKNESS
We walk in darkness Blinded by our own sin Falling in the abyss Of empty ambition
Darkness Thick with complex emotion Hopelessness Our impossible condition
With darkened eyes We’re unable to see Together, our hearts cry With a desperate plea
Who will save us? There is no redemption. Where is justice? We’ve lost all sense of direction.
Darkness, she’s now my friend She’s all I’ve ever known So I smile and continue to pretend That darkness cannot be overthrown
LIGHT OF HOPE
But a light shines dimly on the horizon Flickering gently, whispers of Judah’s lion Should I hope in God’s promises A Savior, destined to save us.
But I’ve known promises Spoken with great assurances. I believed them like a fool But never again because life is cruel.
But the light shines, growing brighter The lights warmth, moves in closer Ice-hardened hearts begin to soften Maybe in this darkness, I’m not forgotten
Turmoil stirs deep within But the light continues shining. Maybe hope - it does exist And darkness will not always persist.
LIGHT OF PEACE
The sleepless nights pass slow But this new light continues to grow Yet Into the darkness I’ve withdrawn As a peaceful light shines like some forgotten dawn.
Mercy is sweet on my bitter tongue Where darkness consumed, since I was young Why should I trust the one I cannot see Is God my friend or my enemy?
There is warmth in the light, drawing me near Breaking into my heart that’s filled with fear. But Shadows lurk in the corners of my heart Can this light make the darkness depart?
I see a path now beneath my feet Should I take it or quickly retreat? But curiosity grabs the best of me Maybe one more step and we’ll see
The warm peaceful light fills the air I can breathe now without despair. Could peace really await on the other side Or should I run and quickly hide.
But a voice beckons me near As the darkness seeks to interfere Condemnations that I don’t belong. Peace, is such a fleeting song.
LIGHT OF JOY
Yet this light shines on the horizon Illuminating my path like the stars of Orion. I see it now, in the distance A Manger, a child, God’s persistence.
This baby is more than a child He is God, righteous, and undefiled. But really, before a child will I now bow This my pride will not allow.
Then I see who this child would grow to be The blind will see The lame will walk The mute will talk Sinners forgiven Away demons are driven
He is the Good Shepherd My joy is now unfettered. This is my awaited Savior Who forgives every failure.
And the darkness tries to lift But doubts sweep in swift. Why should I trust in God now This the cold darkness will not allow
LIGHT OF LOVE
One day, This child will grow to say “I am the light of the World.” The sweetest message ever heard
But words are cheap to speak I do not trust those who seek Fame and fortune at others expense This is my defense.
But day after day he gave of himself Seeking neither fame, nor wealth. With kindness, And gentleness He served The undeserving.
This child laying in the manger Would soon be in grave danger Hands, now small and tender Would soon be pierced in surrender.
Skin, soft and sweet would be broken and beat Hands and feet pierced With a hatred fierce.
The darkness of death the final blow Light snuffed out, no longer aglow Into the cold dark tomb his body lay Darkness now on full display.
In great sadness I hung my head Hope is defeated, hearts full of dread Death, the final all-consuming darkness Is anything, but harmless.
LIGHT OF FAITH
I stood at the manger beholding the cross Hopeless, joyless, completely lost Days passed as darkness fell deep Our Savior is dead, not just asleep.
And when darkness seemingly won I saw a new light had begun Breaking free of the darkness of death Jesus stood alive with new breath
The darkness is powerless Fleeing in cowardice The light has won Death is undone
Jesus is victorious The Son of God - Glorious.
I bow my knee at the manger Pride broken, I humbly receive This gift intended for me I am God’s child, no longer a stranger.
Jesus’ death purchased my freedom And Into his light I now come The darkness has lifted Just as God had predicted
We walk in darkness Blinded by our own sin Falling in the abyss Of empty ambition
Darkness Thick with complex emotion Hopelessness Our impossible condition
With darkened eyes We’re unable to see Together, our hearts cry With a desperate plea
Who will save us? There is no redemption. Where is justice? We’ve lost all sense of direction.
Darkness, she’s now my friend She’s all I’ve ever known So I smile and continue to pretend That darkness cannot be overthrown
LIGHT OF HOPE
But a light shines dimly on the horizon Flickering gently, whispers of Judah’s lion Should I hope in God’s promises A Savior, destined to save us.
But I’ve known promises Spoken with great assurances. I believed them like a fool But never again because life is cruel.
But the light shines, growing brighter The lights warmth, moves in closer Ice-hardened hearts begin to soften Maybe in this darkness, I’m not forgotten
Turmoil stirs deep within But the light continues shining. Maybe hope - it does exist And darkness will not always persist.
LIGHT OF PEACE
The sleepless nights pass slow But this new light continues to grow Yet Into the darkness I’ve withdrawn As a peaceful light shines like some forgotten dawn.
Mercy is sweet on my bitter tongue Where darkness consumed, since I was young Why should I trust the one I cannot see Is God my friend or my enemy?
There is warmth in the light, drawing me near Breaking into my heart that’s filled with fear. But Shadows lurk in the corners of my heart Can this light make the darkness depart?
I see a path now beneath my feet Should I take it or quickly retreat? But curiosity grabs the best of me Maybe one more step and we’ll see
The warm peaceful light fills the air I can breathe now without despair. Could peace really await on the other side Or should I run and quickly hide.
But a voice beckons me near As the darkness seeks to interfere Condemnations that I don’t belong. Peace, is such a fleeting song.
LIGHT OF JOY
Yet this light shines on the horizon Illuminating my path like the stars of Orion. I see it now, in the distance A Manger, a child, God’s persistence.
This baby is more than a child He is God, righteous, and undefiled. But really, before a child will I now bow This my pride will not allow.
Then I see who this child would grow to be The blind will see The lame will walk The mute will talk Sinners forgiven Away demons are driven
He is the Good Shepherd My joy is now unfettered. This is my awaited Savior Who forgives every failure.
And the darkness tries to lift But doubts sweep in swift. Why should I trust in God now This the cold darkness will not allow
LIGHT OF LOVE
One day, This child will grow to say “I am the light of the World.” The sweetest message ever heard
But words are cheap to speak I do not trust those who seek Fame and fortune at others expense This is my defense.
But day after day he gave of himself Seeking neither fame, nor wealth. With kindness, And gentleness He served The undeserving.
This child laying in the manger Would soon be in grave danger Hands, now small and tender Would soon be pierced in surrender.
Skin, soft and sweet would be broken and beat Hands and feet pierced With a hatred fierce.
The darkness of death the final blow Light snuffed out, no longer aglow Into the cold dark tomb his body lay Darkness now on full display.
In great sadness I hung my head Hope is defeated, hearts full of dread Death, the final all-consuming darkness Is anything, but harmless.
LIGHT OF FAITH
I stood at the manger beholding the cross Hopeless, joyless, completely lost Days passed as darkness fell deep Our Savior is dead, not just asleep.
And when darkness seemingly won I saw a new light had begun Breaking free of the darkness of death Jesus stood alive with new breath
The darkness is powerless Fleeing in cowardice The light has won Death is undone
Jesus is victorious The Son of God - Glorious.
I bow my knee at the manger Pride broken, I humbly receive This gift intended for me I am God’s child, no longer a stranger.
Jesus’ death purchased my freedom And Into his light I now come The darkness has lifted Just as God had predicted