Advent, day seven.

Yesterday, we woke to a woods hung up with ice and snow. The dark wet brown of the forest floor, wet from so many weeks of rain, was blanketed with white snow. It was beautiful, like a Christmas card.

Today’s poem is an old friend, written many years ago, at a time when the world seemed dark. Depression stalks many of us, but we are not alone.

We are never alone.

Emmanuel

Evening draws in closer

Frost, it hangs like lace

Tired leaves brown and speckle

Then slowly fall from grace

Sometimes it seems that spring is shackled

And summer fell in deep disgrace

In days like these when darkness seems

To swallow light

I offer you, my friend, this blessing;

Emmanuel

God with us