The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us

© John August Swanson

Christmastide

Born is Christ the Lord by Deborah A. Reeder

I may not go to-night to Bethlehem,

Nor follow star-directed ways, nor tread

The paths wherein the shepherds walked, that led

To Christ, and peace, and God's good will to men.

I may not hear the Herald Angel's song

Peal through the Oriental skies, nor see

The wonder of that Heavenly company

Announce the King the world had waited long.

The manger throne I may not kneel before,

Or see how man to God is reconciled,

Through pure St. Mary's purer, holier child;

The human Christ these eyes may not adore.

I may not carry frankincense and myrrh

With adoration to the Holy One;

Nor gold have I to give the Perfect Son,

To be with those wise kings a worshipper.

Not mine the joy that Heaven sent to them,

For ages since Time swung and locked his gates,

But I may kneel without--the star still waits

To guide me on to holy Bethlehem.

Christmastide by E. Pauline Johnson Tekahoinwake

I wish you a Christmas season filled with love and fun.

My prayer for you and I is that we will take the time to be led 'back to Bethlehem' during these blessed days.

With love, Nicole

Are We Using The Poor?

Morteza Katouzian

"Philanthropy has the potential of immense good and yet it can crush the souls of the recipients when it’s mixed with the ingredients of a new-colonialism or an insistence on superiority of race and pride; the ancient injunction to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves’ will eventually produce the inevitable diabolical result of dehumanizing others."


A perspective on service that encourages us to search ourselves.

Read the full post on SoulGardeners