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Winter Wasteland (Immanuel)

Winter Wasteland (Immanuel)

Last updated on: December 23, 2014 at 12:27 pm by Paul C. Maxwell

Winter Wasteland (Immanuel) 2014-12-23T12:27:05-04:00 Paul C. Maxwell

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This is part of a series of prayers through Isaiah 7:14 for those who feel that they cannot celebrate the Advent season (Intro, Carols, Pretensions, Immanuel).

“Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in his name all oppression shall cease.”

We reel

and falter

and wander

and forget

and take revenge

and write them off

and lose heart

and “Get the hell out of my life.”

We hear many sneaking,

creeping voices

in the first person:

Our pain is too intricate

for your care.

Our mistakes say too much about us

for your love

—your real, approving love.

Our consequences are too permanent

for your power.

Our regret goes deeper

than your reach.

Our trauma is beyond us,

and you.

And you.

Never unsettled?

Never surprised?

Never too late?

No. We refuse that “Thou.”

Act.

Unsettle yourself

and us.

Surprise yourself

and us.

Swoop in

for us

against our calamitous impulses,

beside our bewitching habits,

in spite of all our “too lates,”

before and around, guiding our “if onlys.”

We struggle,

and at times hate

(and at times love)

to admit

our situation with you:

Your Name.

We “shall call his name Immanuel.”

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December 23, 2014

Winter Wasteland (Pretensions)

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December 23, 2014 Creeley on Fear, Love, and Self

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