The shepherd of the starry reaches,
Maker of each sun and moon,
Descended into dust to seek us
Wound within a virgin’s womb!
Wake and hear the heralds’ chorus,
All who wait to welcome him.
He himself is God’s forgiveness,
Freedom for all bound to him.
See him as a gladdening ember
Baptizing the world with fire,
Calling that the ashes witness:
Fountains feeding healed desire.
Born, he makes the world he tailored
Suited for his Kingdom’s mirth;
As death – unwilling dominatrix –
Is changed to midwife second birth.
For God has not refused to meet us,
And did not hoard his heaven’s share!
So, cast on him your crushing burdens
Who habitates our every care,
Who came a child to make us children,
Who died the deaths mankind had learned,
Who rose to lead the captives onward,
Assuring us he shall return…
Where Gomer’s valley blooming verdant,
A Virgin made by bridal pledge
Waits by the well of Jacob saying,
“May it be, Lord, as you’ve said.”
The featured image titled “Nativity” is (c) Lancia E. Smith and is used with her glad permission for Cultivating and The Cultivating Project.
Matthew Clark is a singer/songwriter and storyteller from Mississippi. He has recorded several full length albums, including Matthew’s latest project, “The Well Trilogy,” 3 full-length album/book combos released over three years. Each installment—Only the Lover Sings, A Tale of Two Trees, and Where the River Goes—is made up of 11 songs and a companion book of 13 essays written by a variety of contributors exploring themes around encountering Jesus, faith-keeping, and the return of Christ. You can find the books on Amazon and the albums on Spotify and Apple Music.
A founding member of The Maker’s Project and a columnist for Cultivating, Matthew’s essays reflect on faith-keeping and pilgrimage. Matthew travels as a touring musician and speaker sharing songs and stories in a van called Vandalf.
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