He did not wait till the world was ready,
Till men and nations were at peace
He came when the Heavens were unsteady.
And prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime.
Turned water into wine. He did not wait
Till hearts were pure. In joy he came
To a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
He came, and his light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
To heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
The Maker of the stars was born.
To raise our songs with joyful voice,
For to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with love. REJOICE! Rejoice!
I wasn't aware of this poem by L'Engle till abut four years ago and since reading it have used it continuously to encouragement myself and others. please read.
Momcat


Comments: 8
Cathryn
If you like this, you might like my poem, Not Alone. in articles.
point well taken about the center justify. i'll have to look this up someplace and find out. I center justify my poems often; i like the way it looks.
i agree about the devotional rejoicing but what is even harder, and i think L'Engle is able to do it here, is to rejoice and communicate the reality of living in a difficult world. that is what i love about this poem. i've often sent it to friends who have had a death or tragedy in their life.
cathryn