wakening to
big flakes of snow
round and fat
drifting silently down
filling full the view
from a window
with swirls of white dots
soft as cotton
light as a feather
reminding
of pictures posted
on the wall
in elementary school
where
fat dots of white paint
covering a page
and a snowman
arms outstretched
grin wide and hat cockeyed
making happy
and it's just the same
today
these swirls of white dots
falling from the sky
like a child with a big brush
throwing caution to the wind
spattering paint
all over the sky
making grins wide
and hats cockeyed
happy
In this
a new year
wonder
taking front seat
replacing complacent
and the need to see above
and beyond
the present moment
head bobbing
list making
and the calculating
put aside
packed up with the ornaments
and stashed
instead finding
wonder
a new year thing to do
in the right now
in the everyday
in the ordinary
and in the difficult
because
a new day beckoning
with ice crystal patterns
ubiquitous and lovely
on the windowpane and
outside
exquisite shades
of dawn
briefly unfurling across
the sky
abruptly returning again
to winter grays
and in the eerie quiet
of a walk out in the early
cold tincturing a face
hands shoved deep in pockets
against the wintry raw
where now
newly unveiled sculpture
giant ones bent and gnarled
others small and delicate
the lush green bunting
gone
from another season
knobby arms reaching
and delicate fingers
scraping
the silver ceiling
beauty tumbling forward
enfolding life
like a rich batter in a bowl
yet unfinished
because each moment
in this torn and broken world
filled with a beauty
indescribable
and grace
saturating our souls
saying yes
to this Creator God
trusting what is
and what isn't yet
and choosing
wonder
because the sacred
is writing beauty
all over our lives
don't have to wait
with the countdown
thrumming in our heads
desperate really
to accomplish
make ready and then
show up
and
be merry
don't have to wait
when deep down inside
all the glitter cannot erase
the ache of a soul
when life doesn't deliver
and the season
bringing heartache
against the backdrop
of sparkle
don't have to wait
because
this furious longing
of God for us
indescribable
beyond our wildest desires
captivating
untamable
a love affair
for all the ages
full of
infinite tenderness
and
amazing grace
gifts
larger than ourselves
or any wish list
delivered to our door
already
for broken hearts
and broken hope
covered up with
tinsel and wrapping
until
it is all but
unrecognizable
so deep the longing
driving us
but
this hound of heaven
relentless
to unwrap our messy
heal our broken
and calm our desperate
with his love
full of mercy
born in a stable
on this very special night
don't have to wait
anymore
