Peace in the Meantime

I’m a writer, but I’m not a poet. I enjoy great poetry, which means that I do not enjoy most “Christian” poetry. The syrupy, over-rhymed, sing-songy stuff that we read on a lot of Christmas cards is really pretty gaggy to me.

My friend and co-laborer in Christ here at Church of the Open Door, Colin McDougall Jr. is a profound exception.

Maybe it was the years in the bush of Africa planting churches among unreached tribes that honed his craft with poetic verse.

Maybe it’s his intensity.

Whatever it is, I’ve delighted in his verse over the years. I found his 2009 Advent Poem especially moving:

Peace in the Christmas Meantime

Advent 2009

His star of truce, a white flag in the midnight,

It hangs above the meeting place.

His forward troops engage earth’s sentries with goodwill,

They in number awesome and glorious in might,

Achieve complete surprise, and hold the heights

But speak tidings of peace.

Himself their Captain comes naked, comes unarmed,

To learn our troubles from birth to bitter end:

Great power unguarded; God with us at rest.

He welcomes wise ambassadors of kings;

On His behalf the stewards bear their offerings:

A peaceful pair of doves.

And in the Christmas meantime, men respond as mankind will:

Some with golden gifts of worship; some with innocents to kill.