The True Meaning
During the Christmas season, we are inspired by so many inspiring words, songs, and images. While preparing for and working the day of the LUM Jubilee Christmas one couldn’t help but feel the love, hope, and compassion so real during Christmas. It reminded us of two powerful poems by Ann Weems, a Presbyterian elder, a lecturer, and a popular poet. Ann Weems’ poems remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. The two poems by Ann Weems that inspired us this week are included below.
The first,
Christmas Comes
Christmas comes every time we see God in other persons.
The human and the holy meet in Bethlehem
or in Times Square,
For Christmas comes like a golden storm on its way to Jerusalem—
Determinedly, inevitably…
Even now it comes
In the face of hatred and warring—
No atrocity too terrible to stop it,
No Herod strong enough,
No hurt deep enough,
No curse shocking enough,
No disaster shattering enough—
For someone on earth will see the star,
Someone will hear the angel voices,
Someone will run to Bethlehem,
Someone will know peace and goodwill:
The Christ will be born!
And the second poem…
Not Celebrate?
Your burden is too great to bear?
Your loneliness is intensified during this Christmas season?
Your tears have no end?
Not celebrate?
You should lead the celebration!
You should run through the streets to ring the bells and sing the loudest!
You should fling the tinsel on the tree, and open your house to your neighbors, and call them in to dance!
For it is you above all others who know the joy of Advent.
It is unto you that a Savior is born this day,
One who comes to lift your burden from your shoulders,
One who comes to wipe the tears from your eyes.
You are not alone, for He is born this day to you.
Ann Weems has a gift. She reminds us so eloquently why this season is so special.
What poems, songs, hymns, or other creative works bring the true message, meaning, and feeling of Christmas to YOU? Please share them with us.
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