Winter Wasteland (Immanuel)

This is part of a series of prayers through Isaiah 7:14 for those who feel that they cannot celebrate the Advent season (Intro, Carols, Pretensions, Immanuel).

“Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in his name all oppression shall cease.”

We reel

        and falter

        and wander

        and forget

        and take revenge

        and write them off

        and lose heart

        and “Get the hell out of my life.”

We hear many sneaking,

                                creeping voices

                                in the first person:

Our pain is too intricate

                                for your care.

Our mistakes say too much about us

                                for your love

                                —your real, approving love.

Our consequences are too permanent

                                for your power.

Our regret goes deeper

                                than your reach.

Our trauma is beyond us,

                                and you.

And you.

Never unsettled?

Never surprised?

Never too late?

No. We refuse that “Thou.”

Act.

Unsettle yourself

                        and us.

Surprise yourself

                        and us.

Swoop in

                        for us

                        against our calamitous impulses,

                        beside our bewitching habits,

                        in spite of all our “too lates,”

                        before and around, guiding our “if onlys.”

We struggle,

                        and at times hate

                        (and at times love)

                                to admit

                        our situation with you:

                        Your Name.

We “shall call his name Immanuel.”