ad- vent : Origin- latin "ad (to) - venire (come) "
/ waiting
epiph-a-ny: a sudden manifestation ; intuitive grasp of reality through something like an event that is usually simple and striking
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Charlie Brown asked Lucy why she was so happy.
Lucy explained how it was Christmas and
Continued further that this was the time of year
to "spread joy, caring, compassion, giving, peace and love."
Charlie Brown wondered to Lucy,
"Why do we do these things at Christmastime
and why can't we do these things and be that way
all year round?" Lucy yelled at Charlie Brown,
"What are you some type of religious fanatic?"
The Wriring
Gifts
Remember when everyday was filled with
Courier and Ives images of fresh fallen snow
purifying the once pastoral now grayed landscape?
Red cheeked frozen runny nosed sleigh riding children
singing and laughing echoing through white coated
slippery rolling hill lane through the Jersey hills.
The winds would blow so cold,
mystical transporting, invigorating , inspiring
and encouraging every quark giving life from
that one true pure light.
Anniversary celebrations oftentimes occur
when least expected .
Anticipated birthdays are no exception.
Living on the snow-line on Kittatinny Mountain
abundant larger than usual snow flakes fell
fast and furious encompassing the drifter
and his lovely country home
three days before Christmas Day.
It was the third anniversary
of a daughter's arrival ,
the third day before the great Noel.
The phone rings , caller ID would be a dream
yet to be realized for sometime in the unknown future.
A crackling distant unrecognizable voice
traversed though the lines
proclaiming that results of medical tests
completed concerning the drifter's wife's
current condition , a new pregnancy.
A deep breath, tears meandered
down his cheeks to his constant fretful parched lips.
The drifter's trembling voice cracked
petitioning the doctor on
the other end to repeat, the father unclear if he
heard the doctor's words clearly.
The erudite voice repeated the announcement,
"Everything looks good and she's having another girl."
Lifting and squeezing his three year old, the two cracked open
the front door, just enough not to let
Jack Frost's wind penetrate their home.
The adventus sounds soon included
slowly trekking steps up the snow blanketed driveway.
Some say it was coincidence and
others of faith are confident of a different explanation
for what was happening simultaneously.
A small cadre of carolers cautiously careened making their
own path up the drive smiling and harmonizing "Joy to the world.."
Within a blink of a weary tear-filled eye the mother's car
carefully shadowed the small chorus .
Mother exited the car weaving her way through the
singers and the fresh fallen snow.
Excitement of the news could not be restrained,
the three year old shouted out the news....
alerting every creature who had ears to hear,
"We are are having a baby -a sister!",
The father, mother and daughter embraced while
the hope filled balladeers went on their delightful way
vibrantly singing twice as joyously than simple
soft sweet harmonies from few minutes earlier,
proclaiming the gift of the good news.
- JF Sobecki
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Poetry
( Click on link below each picture for videos)
Sometimes one needs just to sit back
and be present to the gifts of the
art and wisdom of a master poet/philosopher:
( Note: the drifter first saw and heard the
Poet Laureate read a power-filled poem at
JFK's presidential inauguration... a gift when everything
changed for the drifter that moment.)
Robert Frost - Collection of poems
The Music:
( some music for your listening pleasure
as you reflect on the grace filled moments - gifts)
Simple Gifts - Yo Yo Ma ans Allison Kraus (J. Bracket)
Getting Ready For Christmas Day - P. Simon
Cry of a Tiny Babe - B. Cockburn
Do They know It's Christmas - Band Aid 1984*
(The year of "Gifts'' above))
Coda: An Indulgence for "The Gifts"- the girls.
Father and Daughter - P. Simon
Love and Happiness - Emmy Lou Harris / Mark Knopfler
This is Us - Mark Knopfler / Emmy Lou Harris
* and for the Grandchildren and children everywhere ...
and those with Child-like hearts
Christmastime is Here - Charlie Brown Christmas
(V.Guaraldi)
Wishing you all "Gifts" of love, peace, and happiness ..all ways.
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved JF Sobecki
