Martha's Marvellous Munchies

Merry Christmas!  A lady from my Dad's church asked me if I had written a poem about the Christmas star.  I said I hadn't, but I would be happy to try.  Since it has now been shared with its intended recipients, I thought you all might like to read it too. A thousand stars were shining in the black and brilliant sky When the Eastern kings were searching for a meaning from on high. A thousand stars were shining, but the wise men followed One. A thousand lamps were beckoning in the dwellings on their way As the magi journeyed onwards through the long and weary day. A thousand lamps were beckoning, but the wise men searched for One. A thousand sparkles shimmered in the stable bare and cold, From the flasks of richest perfume and the gleam of purest gold. A thousand sparkles shimmered as the wise men honoured One. A thousand lights of Christmas now shine out in radiant joy, All in cheerful celebration of the birth of Mary’s boy. A thousa...

Today is National Poetry Day .  Poetry is the fine dining of literature.  We spend most of our days tossing together the everyday pasta of prose, finding a few quick metaphors in the fridge and splashing in a dash of humour to add to the flavour.  But sometimes we want to spend the extra time to make a meal to linger over.  We pick out the best of our rare similes and assemble them artfully, paying careful attention to rhyme and metre.  The restrictions force us to pare down to the essentials, letting the flavour of the ingredients speak for themselves.  The intention is not just to sate the appetite for words, but to stroke the senses and stir the imagination.  To create an occasion.  A poem. I'm afraid my blog is not a fine dining establishment this evening.  I tried to put some ingredients together, but they somehow failed to produce anything worth keeping.  Fortunately others are better poetry chefs than I am, and they have lef...

On Friday 11 September, British Members of Parliament discussed an Assisted Dying Bill, which would enable doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to patients with less than six months to live, if the patient requested it. No one could blame you. Save six months of pricey meds. Free up one of those hospice beds. One less mouth that must be fed. No one could blame... No one could blame you. Save your family from the shame. Free them from the waiting game. You won't even know their name. No one could... No one could blame you. Save yourself from all the pain. Freedom from that endless strain. Wouldn't it be more humane? No one... No one could blame you. Save yourself with one small pill. Freedom comes when all is still. All it takes is your free will. No. The bill was rejected, with 118 in favour and 330 against.

Come, enter in, approach the wine and bread. This is no mere remembrance of one who lies long dead. This is an invitation from one whose words all said: Come, enter in. Come, enter in, lay down your nagging fear. Your burdens may be lifted, your sins forgiven here. This table is a still point in all the changing year: Come, enter in. Come, enter in, though not with hate possessed - You need to ask forgiveness from those you have distressed. A blessing must be given if you would now be blessed: Come, enter in. Come, enter in, lift up your eyes again. Remember him who lived and died, compassion masking pain, And view him now in heaven, where he shall always reign: Come, enter in. Come, enter in, receive the bread and wine. Drink deep, eat well, and understand the sign - For in this holy sacrament God's grace will always shine: Come, enter in. This is an old poem.  I wrote it almost ten years ago, arising out of a prayer meeting at my church in Bristol, but i...

All my life the wind has spoken to me. The confusion of noise, the clash of branches, the crash of thunder have said to my soul: Beware! Are you ready? Behold, the Lord comes. He is coming with judgement, He is coming with majesty, He is coming in power. Are you ready? And all my life I have not been ready. I have fallen to my knees and pleaded for mercy and heard only the blowing of the wind. But today the angels have sung to me. The purity of tone, the beauty of melody, the complexity of harmony have said to my soul: Peace! You are ready. Behold, the Lord comes. He is coming with love, He is coming with joy, He is coming with reward. You are ready. And today I am ready. I have fallen to my knees and accepted Jesus' mercy and heard only the song of the angels. Recently we visited Lichfield Cathedral, which is associated with St Chad.  Chad, or Ceadda, became bishop of Lichfield in the 7th century, when it was part of the ancient kin...

If the angels are only singing to shepherds - why bother with angels at all? It's as if God says, "I could do it big, but instead, I'm keeping it small. I could send my Son to a palace - but I'd rather he slept in a stall. My heavenly hosts are at his command, but it's Mary who comes to his call. And only a few on that first holy night are aware of his coming at all. Now you think that it would have been clearer if the whole world had been held in thrall By earthquakes and fire, and thunderous noise, and the blast of a trumpet's call. There'll be such a time, I can promise you that, when the earth to its knees will fall. But for now, I send love, stealing down from above - and for now, I'm keeping it small." And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. ...

that gentle awkward yearning I feel, just to touch your face Sheldon Vanauken , A Severe Mercy Look!  The stable is silent now. The shepherds have returned to the still moonlit fields. The angels have laid down their trumpets and hushed their song. Only the stable remains, a dark silhouette in the quiet night. Creep up to the door.  A slice of silver moonlight breaks the gloom inside. There they are. Mary, her sleeping form curled protectively around her precious baby. Joseph, exhausted by the burden of caring for his new family. And Jesus.  So small and helpless a bundle. Look! One soft pink hand has escaped from his swaddling, tiny fingers curled tight. See how long and dark his eyelashes are. If I touch his cheek, will I wake him? Will he know I am here? Will his power change me? Can I?  May I? Lean down.  One outstretched finger brushes that soft baby skin. Gently.  As delicate as a butterfly landing. Blue eyes open sleepily....

The thing itself: that hidden part That sings through life and love and art; That sparkles in the candle's glow, That pulses in the ocean's flow. Our highest dreams and longings dark Point to the yearnings of our heart. But we can only see in part The light that our desires show: The thing itself. For we look to a country far, An unheard song, an unshone star. It seems the wait is hard and slow, But one day soon these things we'll know If we will only set our heart On God himself. With thanks to C.S. Lewis' sermon, The Weight of Glory , for providing the inspiration that was so sorely lacking for this post. Whom have I in heaven but you?      And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail,      but God is the strength [ a ] of my heart and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:25-26

See that?  That's the end of your nose.  And maybe just a short space in front of it.  Pretty easy to focus on that, isn't it?  That's the Get up, get dressed, Why am I already stressed? Where's your trainers?  Where's my keys? Not "I want, I want!"  Say please! Now your coat's on front to back -  No, you may not have a snack. Out the door, we're running late. Look, a car! A dog! A gate! Now who was it I had to see? Do you really need a wee? One day I'll make this house pristine. Right now I don't have time to clean. What's for dinner?  I don't know.. OK, off to bed you go! Story, pajamas, lights out, sleep. Collapse in an exhausted heap.  of everyday life. Now turn that focus wheel... out... out... out... Past Immediate Concerns... Past Worries About Family... Past Where Is My Life Going To... Past News of Importance I Should Have An Opinion About... See that?   That's a star... so far away that the...