christmas poem

I came across this poem today. Well, yesterday technically, I realise as I look at the clock!

Something rather different and a helpful aid, perhaps, to reflecting on Christmas.

The Story Did Not Start
with a Stable and a Star

by Virginia Knowles

The story did not start
with a stable and a star
But in the beginning,
before billygoats on boulders
or bluebirds in birch trees

The Trinity, the Three-In-One:
Father, Spirit, Son

Viewed a vast void
with a venturesome vision

And lo, this Lavish LORD said,
“Let there be…”

And there was Light
and Life and Love

Tigers and tiger lilies
and tiger sharks

Amoebas and ants,
aardvarks and apple trees,

Honeysuckle and honeybees
and heavenly hallelujahs

For it was good:
this grand garden,

green and growing,
glorious and glowing

With two to tend Eden:
Adam and Eve

Masterpieces made
to multiply more masterpieces
in the image of their Maker

Working and walking with Him,
worshiping Him
for the wonder of His wisdom

But then came a choice
and a cheater and a chilling challenge

They rebelled and rejected
and ruined their Royal Relationship

In punishment,
pushed out from Paradise
into pain and peril, perishing

Generation after generation

Mankind multiplied moral messes

The Spirit sometimes seized sinners
into the Sovereign Sacred Story

Prodding prophets, priests,
and preachers to proclaim:

“Repent! Return!
Revere! Renew!”

And so the Father sent his Son

And seers sought this Saviour from afar

But the story did not stop
with a stable and a star

The little Lord Jesus,
who lay there so lowly,
lived his life

This Great God-With-Us
grew in graceHe,

the Holy One,
who helped and healed

Preached and prayed
and praised His Father

This Lord of Love
looked high and low
to liberate the lost

This consecrated Christ
carried His cross

He was crucified in His courage
by our cowardice

Thus our Prophet-Priest
paid the penalty price
for our Paradise

His ransom rescues rebels

from ruinFreeing those
who by faith will fully follow

Generation after generation

Multiplying more miracles
among mortals

For the Spirit
of the Sovereign Sacred Story

Still seizes sinners
and sanctifies saints

And our Royal Redeemer
shall return:

Holy is He!
Hark the heavenly hallelujahs!

For it is good
and God is glorious!

Earth shall end
and eternity shall start

And the story of the Saviour
shall always speak to the heart.

Christmas is a big story!