Editor’s note: Meridian expresses thanks to Richard Eyre for sharing a weekly poem each of these last ten weeks of the year.  To read the eight earlier poems in this series click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Have you enjoyed them and would you like to see them continue, perhaps on a less frequent basis? Reply directly to Richard at the email mentioned in his context below.

Poet’s context: I’ve enjoyed being a small voice trying to return poetry to modern lives. Before mass media and before social media, poetry was read privately for inspiration and aloud in parlors for entertainment. If we continue these poems in Meridian, would you like to see one weekly, biweekly, or monthly? Please let me know personally at Dr*******@***il.com (a pen name)

Today’s Christmas Poem sprang from an interesting question we discussed in last week’s Sunday School class.

With Wondering Awe

Question:
As one studies Christ
Does he/she move closer to
Or further from Him?

Instinctively we say
Closer of course!

But listen to C.S. Lewis:
“Beware of professed Christians
Who possess insufficient awe of Christ.”
Or Neal A. Maxwell:
“The more we ponder where we stand
In relation to Jesus Christ,
The more we realize that
We do not stand at all,
We only kneel.”

Scripture tells us that He created
Numberless worlds; that He is
More intelligent than all other spirits
(combined); and juxtapositions His
Greatness with our “nothingness.”

The shepherds felt wondering awe,
Rather than knowing familiarity.
The wise men too.
…For a mere babe,
In a rude stable.

They felt Wonder, Awe, Magic,
Joy incomprehensible,
As we all should when
Contemplating His Condescension.

The vastness of space between
His complete perfection
and our incomplete imperfection
Should distance us,
Yet, incomprehensibly,
The vastness of His love,
Draws us nearer.

Thus, the answer
to the opening question is
Both.
Spiritual oxymorons:
Distant closeness,
Intimate awe,
Familial worship,
Warm wonder.

Oh, come let us adore Him.