Winter Wasteland (Pretensions)

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).

“O Come, thou rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan’s tyranny.”

Undo our tangled emotions.

Sew a smooth cloth to dress our wounds.

                                            to sling our sprains.

                                            to clean up our messes.

Longsuffer our distrusting hearts.

               We are eager to point out your absence.

               We are ready to fall on our swords.

               We are ready to coerce your attention

                                  any way we can.

Prop up our unshakeable faith

               which is gone in the morning,

               which carries all of our unspoken expectations

               and all our purity and pretension.

It is not easy for us, Lord.

We live in an open world,

               and are threatened.

We pray to a closed heaven,

               and feel ignored.

It is not easy for us to sit still

               while you do … what, exactly?

Give us a miracle.

                 a sign from you.

                 a way to test you.

                 a sense of self.

                 a word.

                 a reason to walk away.

                 a reason to stay.

                 a little help.

                 something.

                 anything.

“A virgin shall conceive

               and bear a son.”