Month: December 2009
-
Advent[ures] in Incarnation [12] | The Wondrous Gift is Given
Whenever a gift is given, an invisible cargo is exchanged with it, loaded with semi-conscious messages about power-relations between giver and receiver. Offering an expensive gift to someone can be a power-play: I am rich enough to give you this. Even letting someone out into traffic can carry the same message: I am more gracious…
-
Advent[ures] in Incarnation [11] | How Silently, How Silently…
There is only one thing on the children’s minds: presents. There has probably been only one thing on many of our minds these last few weeks: what to buy for who? How much is appropriate to spend? What did they give me last year? How will they think of me if I give them this?…
-
Advent[ures] in Incarnation [10] | Brother Hare by Katherine Venn
I absolutely love this advent poem by Katherine Venn. She’s currently doing a Masters in poetry at the University of East Anglia, and keeping a blog of the experience over at Minute Particulars. Brother Hare Born with your clothes on, trembling in your scrape, wide eyes open, soft, as new things are, warm; alone, pressed…
-
Advent[ures] in Incarnation [9] | Wait
From ‘Advent’ in The Complex Christ: Our problem today: the space for imagination to expand and take shape is inversely proportional to the speed at which we live. Driven hard and fast, we lack the time to allow alternate worlds and possibilities to form, careering past small turnings and exits, bound to follow the obvious…
-
Advent[ures] in Incarnation [8] | Advent Poem | Post-Partum
Post-Partum Amniotics spilt, and semiotics rupture; there are no words, just raw screams and suckles. Child of God, child of man – no difference: new life is unmoored emotion, a wide sea of tears and sick, and just one desire: to feed, gather in, be mother-close. But God won’t stay. Controlled crying; separation an immediate…
-
Advent[ures] in Incarnation [7] | Jesus Was a #Palestinian
Born into occupation. Killed by a corrupt state. Growing in poverty Troubling to the rich Teller of wise tales Lover of good meals Accused of insurrection Disregarded by the courts Awkward for the powerful Bain of the religious Beaten by soliders Denied justice Tortured Forsaken Left for dead But never to be underestimated: Jewish, not…