This is no time for a child to be born,With the earth betrayed by war and hate
And a nova lighting the sky to warn
That time runs out and the sun burns late.
That was no time for a child to be born,
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;
Honour and truth were trampled by scorn—
Yet here did the Saviour make his home.
When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by greed and pride the sky is torn
Love still takes the risk of birth.
Madeleine L’Engle’s “The Risk of Birth”
copyright 1974 Madeleine L'Engle
In this time of darkness following the senseless slaughter of the innocents in Sandy Hook (and other children whose bodies are ripped apart by war and disease and hunger around the world), I am grateful that Love still takes the risk of birth. Let us all, especially those of us who endeavor to follow the Prince of Peace risk loving and working for peace. Let us incarnate the almighty Love and Light of God in a world seemingly filled with hatred and darkness. May the God of Love and Light bless us -- the broken-hearted, the down-trodden, the safe in our cozy homes -- everyone.
With love,
Brent
