Advent’s call to wait, watch, prepare
didn’t outlast Thanksgiving’s leftover turkey;
O come, o come Emmanuel gave way
to O little town of Bethlehem.
The family candle ritual fell
as the calendar filled with fun;
the bell lap comes earlier each year,
pushing, pressing; fibrillation nears.
The devotional book gathers dust
as cable inundates us with new classics.
How many twists and technologies can we find
to complicate and reintroduce Nicholas’ gift?
Worship at the cathedral of the mall
intensifies as credit tachometers
whine beyond the red zone;
package toting enhances subluxation.
Always one step ahead of where we are;
spirit, mind, body– never the three shall meet;
standing in line, expecting only to
exchange presents instead of presence.
Beyond the mall manger’s baby powder scent
the Christ child begs our attention;
the true spending gift of Christmas
is risking honest time sharing love.
© 2004 Todd Jenkins
No comments:
Post a Comment