Northland Christmas Holiday

Green bush pushing

vivid blue

sky and sea

mirroring and expanding

a continuous color palette

thick and mysterious

in the depths

against rocks

where purple and white jellyfish

float aimlessly in communities

with stragglers

left stranded

on the high tide mark

soft and slippery underfoot.

A pair of orange beaked and eyed,

black plumed birds

defend their nest

with bold attack

towards intruders.

Sticks deter them
but their shrieking complaint

is not silenced
until we leave their territory.

The incoming tide
over hot pale sand
creates warm shallows.

Out further the ocean currents
are cold and unforgiving.

The tiny boat bounces over

the wind tipped waves

back to the sweep of beach.

Place of blessed earth

and rest

and re-creation.

What to give in the Christmas season

What shall I give in the Christmas season?

What do my loved ones need?

They need me to be close,

and if distance separates us,

to know that my love reaches them there.

They need me to hug them,
more than once,

to feel safe
and that all will be well.

They need me to tell them
I love them,

not when I want,
but when they need to hear
those words of life and blessing.

They need me to slow down
long enough,

so I am not just a blur
at their visions edge,
but vitally present and real.

They need me to listen
to tales of favorite things,

and oft told stories
enriched by the telling.

They need me to laugh
at their jokes,

affirm what they share,
and smile with true understanding.

Most of all they need me to
reflect to them
the unconditional love, grace and mercy
I receive from my heavenly Saviour,
whose birth we remember on Christmas Day.

Tide

It is hard

to feel frenetic

on a beach,

with pale, warm grains

between your toes,

and the intermittent breeze

that gently ruffles your hair

on its way past.

I sit on the snake of sand

found between

Pohutukawa blossoms

ready to burst

into crimson Christmas,

and the light chased blue

of the beckoning sea.

I listen

to the unchanging rhythm

of waves meeting shore,

dutifully keeping

within God ordained boundaries.

Mankind would do well

to do the same.

Joy To The World

The shepherds they got it,

the angels did too.

The wise men understood.

How about you?

The angels sang in chorus,
creation gave a shout.
But the innkeeper missed it,
he locked them all out.

The prophets foretold,
the Scriptures were clear.
How it would happen,
for God to draw near.

To come as a baby,
could be seen as a risk.
He could have flown in,
on a shiny gold disk.

But a manger it was,
without or with hay.
So many missed it back then,
and still miss it today.

The glorious gift,
sent from heaven above.
God's grace to express,
the way back to love.

So try not to miss it,

it's easily done.

The true meaning of Christmas,

the birth of God's Son.

Fulfilment (Revisited)

There is a sense of fulfilment that people search for their entire lives

but can never find

because they are looking in the wrong places

at the wrong times

with the wrong people.

Life is full of tragedies that come from this
frantic
destructive
searching.

Some seek fulfilment in noise
some in pleasure
some in hard work
some in fame.

We look at the richly famous,
the very attractive people,
ambassadors for all that is desirable in the world.

We hang on their every word,
until the day they fall from their shiny pedestal,
leaving others to rake through the ashes of their lives.

There is a fulfilment
so simple
so profound
that everyone can receive it.

It's the fulfilment of a promise made to the first of humankind.

Grace and truth lived among us.

It's what we celebrate at Christmas.

God was born as a baby.

His name is Jesus.

Waiting

How long do you wait

for someone to return your call

for a friend to make an expected visit

for a bus or train or plane that's been delayed?

Waiting can be

frustrating

even for those mastering the elusive art of patience

in this instant gratification world.

You can look at it as a waste of your precious
ever
running
out
time.

The Bible says that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.

How long am I meant to wait?

And what will I do if
He arrives in a way
I'm not expecting
and I don't recognize Him?

How many of those waiting
for the Messiah
didn't recognize Him?

How many still wait?

Longing

God longs for you to know Him better.

Do you know that?

Do you believe it?

Does it change the way you behave every day?

Can you imagine why the Creator of the universe would want you to know Him better?

Some talk about relationship with God
and then act
like it's just another religion.

I wouldn't talk to my best friend on the phone
and not expect her to say something back.

I wouldn't ask her to help me with something
and then not expect to see a response.


You might say
God must be busy with bigger issues than my life.

I don't even like myself sometimes.

How can He be interested?
Why should He care about me?

So you say to yourself

I will just stay busy trying to solve my own issues
and pretend I know enough about life to get through it
so people think everything's okay with me

but I've got this longing

deep inside.

Suspended In Starlight

Light filled beings

suspended in starlight.

Seraphim spinning

with delirious joy.

Cherubim's choral shout.

Warrior winged Creatures
coming close to Earth,

as on Creation's celebration.

Heaven's Hosannas.

Anthems echoing out
into vastness,
made by the Mighty One.

Psalms of eternal praise,

heard by mortal flesh and blood,

as the Incarnate One
comes forth in Virgin Birth.

Wrapped as a treasure.

Seen by men and angels.

Sent by His Father,

to save Mankind.