"hear, that your soul may live"

"If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me;
whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
and produces a weapon for its purpose.
I have also created the ravager to destroy;
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD
and their vindication from me, declares the LORD."

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David."
(Is 54.15-55.3)

for sinéad

I Believe In You (by Bob Dylan, on Slow Train Coming)

They ask me how I feel
And if my love is real
And how I know I'll make it through
And they, they look at me and frown
They'd like to drive me from this town
They don't want me around
Because I believe in you

They show me to the door
They say, "Don't come back no more"
'Cause I don't be like they'd like me to
And I, I walk out on my own
A thousand miles from home
But I don't feel alone
Because I believe in you

I believe in you even through the tears and the laughter
I believe in you even though we be apart
I believe in you even on the morning after
Oh, when the dawn is nearing
Oh, when the night is disappearing
Oh, this feeling is still here in my heart
You might also like

Don't let me drift too far
Keep me where you are
Where I will always be renewed
And that which you've given me today
Is worth more than I could pay
And no matter what they say
I believe in you

I believe in you when winter turns to summer
I believe in you when white turns to black
I believe in you even though I be outnumbered
Oh, though the earth may shake me
Oh, though my friends forsake me
Oh, even that couldn't make me go back

Don't let me change my heart
Keep me set apart
From all the plans they do pursue
And I, I don't mind the pain
Don't mind the driving rain
I know I will sustain
Because I believe in you

the gravity of love

 We sang this song in church today:

I really like it, and it echos my thoughts from "God pulls." A few of the metaphors, though, don't quite make sense, astronomically. So I worked on a slightly different version:

 

This is the gravity of love

Just as the earth's held by the sun

You're all around me

You're holding everything

This is our hope in who you are

Just like the warmth of our fiery star

Your love is reaching

You're holding everything

back to the daily grind

 

The bright aura fades

But the angel's words echo.

My God is with me. 

Thinking of Mary this year. And God pulling. (Previous years' Christmas haikus start here.)

o come

My favorite version of my favorite advent song, from Heather's celtic Christmas album:

O come, O come, Emmanuel

going lower

Recent experiences brought to mind this old favorite, from the Tao Te Ching:

The best of man is like water,
Which benefits all things, and does not contend with them,
Which flows in places that others disdain,
Where it is in harmony with the Way.