The Story of Advent
December 23rd, 2022
Recently our Poet-in-Residence, Brent Newsom, shared with me a volume of Christmas poetry titled Remembering That It Happened Once, compiled and edited by Dennis Johnson. Two of Brent’s poems are included in this volume.
Often I feel like the first person to experience things, owing to the fact that I often fall into the “it’s all about me” attitude of life. This incredibly selfish way of looking at one’s existence is something I fight all the time - but I hope as I age that I get better at it.
When thinking about the Story of Advent it is easy to think that our own experiences and anticipation are the only ones, at least temporarily. But it is instructive to see how centuries (nay, millennium) of Christians have devoted much thought and contemplation on the Christmas story and how the anticipation of Advent and of the birth of the Christ Child feeds our soul and enlightens our Christian being. This wonderful volume of poetry encompasses works as old as the early Christian Era and as new as the last few years.
We are part of the ages-old story of the Story of Advent. Our part is important - we must relish the opportunity to re-tell, re-energize, and relate to the Story. But the season of Advent reminds us all to once again to put aside ourselves, think of others, and experience the Story as if we had never heard it before.
The Story is captured in this beautiful ancient poem by Bernard of Clairvaux (1090—1153). May this poem from Remembering It Happened Once help you to think fresh about Advent and the anticipation of the coming Christ Child.
You have come to us as a small child,
but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts,
the gift of eternal love.
Caress us with Your tiny hands,
embrace us with Your tiny arms,
and pierce our hearts with Your soft, sweet cries.
- Jim Vernon