Christmas Eve

In the hush time, the eve of the
arrival of our liberator and redeemer,
all is calm, all is bright.  Holy
Night still beckons, angels still
sing.  Voices clamor over the
starlight, raucous noise of
failing earth.  Inside of me, a fire,
a welcome hearth, the door
unlatched, listening for your
coming.  Always spinning, the world
keeps rushing, a furious stream
toward an end, but in the soul,
a quiet night of waiting.  Let love
push its way up through ice, melt
frigid hurt, heal broken hearts,
bring laughter where tears laid
tracks of pain.  A patient silence,
borne of surrender, a choice to trust
that the arrival is sure, the fruit lies
dormant waiting for the warm
sun of spring to call it forth.  Christmas
again, you there, me here, wonder
all around.