Living the Message Dec.26

The Gift (Christmas 1976)

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given...
and his name will be called
"Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

Half-sick with excitement and under garish lights
I do it again, year after year after year.
I can't wait to plunder the boxes, then show
And tell my friends: Look what I got!

I rep the tissue from every gift but find
The all the labels have lied. Stones.
And my heart a stone. "Dead in trespasses
And sin." The lights go out. Later my eyes,

Accustomed to the dark, see wrapped
In Christ-foil and ribboned in Spirit-colors

The multi-names messiah, love labels
On a faith shape, every name a promise
And every promise a present, made and named
All in the same breath. I accept.

A savior has just been born in David's town,
a Savior who is Messiah and Master. Thi is what you are to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.

Luke 2:11-12