Lyrics and Longings

The story of the first Christmas has captivated writers for hundreds of years. For me, part of the writing process is to imagine myself in a scene and then to wonder before putting anything into words.
Mary’s commitment – made so clear in the early verses of The Gospel of Luke – has always been at the centre of my imagining.
Seeing her, Joseph and the baby in the stable or cave or shed or guest room has been a potent place for imagining:
– Mary and the angel
– Joseph, quietly standing by
– the stable scene
– the first visitors
– the later arrival of the Magi
Perhaps most importantly, I find myself wondering at our own response to God’s astonishing act of grace in sending his son to be Immanuel – God with us.