Poem: "On the Edge of Waiting" by an unknown author

Shhh.

Come away a moment,
my friend.
Come away 
from the lights, 
and the crowds, 
and the shops, 
and the noise, 
and the pressure, 
and the worrries, 
and the old wounds that 
winter us 
before our time.
Come and sit with me here.
Rest. 
Just for a moment.
Let me share with you once again
what we forget in our festive
frenzy: 
He is coming…
Down the long ages of despair 
He comes as Hope.
Down the rough road of doubt 
He comes as Faith.
Down the broken byways 
of the 
human heart 
He comes as Love.
He is coming…
Sit with me on the edge of waiting…
Sit in sacred stillness…
Breathe the deep breath of 
blessing.
You do not have to do anything.
He is coming…
Whether you are ready or not
Aware or not,
Able or not,
Present or not,
Believing or not,
He is coming…
As the sun rises,
as the moon shines,
as the tides turn,
as the stars dance,
He is coming…
So do not worry.
Let the tyranny of 
tension 
fall from you…
You never needed to carry it.
Let the false face of 
righteous readiness to defend,
dissolve.
You never needed to wear it.
How could you ever be ready 
for this?
For the first proclamation of the 
Kingdom to be heard in a baby’s
cry.
Nothing is asked of you 
but 
to be here and now
who you are.
Truly.
Fully.
Broken?
Yes.
Weak?
Yes.
Called?
Oh yes. 
He is coming… 
And He is calling you to come to Him.
As He always does.
As He always will.
So, how will you greet Him,
the One who is coming?
The One who calls you, 
to His crib.
(Yes, you.)
Will you prepare a place for Him?
Will you open the cave of your heart to Him?
Will you place Him in the sanctuary of your soul?
Will you lay Him upon the rough straw of your life?
Will you swaddle Him with your silence?
Will you offer Him the gentle warmth of animal breath?
Will you offer Him your love?
Or not.
He is coming…
Do not miss the moment
Of Mystery’s 
mangered birth
by succumbing to 
Bethlehem busyness.
No.
Become as still as a shepherd watching the flock of slumbering sheep.
Become as still as a sage watching the long dance of the stars.
Become as still as Joseph hearing Angels on the edge of dreams.
Become as still as she who is the stillpoint of love’s longing, filled with light,
and whose silence 
brought forth the 
Word of Love.
Be still and you will know
He is coming…
Always…
In stillness, 
on the edge of waiting…
He is coming for you…
He is coming to you…
Always.
He is coming in Love.

(Author unknown)