the work of angel wings redux: in which I wish my Eye happy birthday
In celebration of EyeJunkie’s one-year birthday, here is a republishing of my very first post from May 6, 2008–with a new added illustration (“A is for Angel”). This experience and experiment in “citizen media” has been very rewarding. I am deeply honored that you have chosen to read “my stuff” and to share this journey toward a life of paying attention. You’ve been privy to obsessions, pet peeves, frustrations, lessons, opinions, incessant pictures of cute children and all the other “stuff” of my days. I don’t claim that it’s always good “stuff,” but that it is honest and real, reflective of the complexity and annoyance and indecision and certainty and pure joy of life on the ground, running.
This poem has been around for a while. I wrote it about wonder and responsibility, thinking of the help we need and where we get it. I wrote it to remind myself to relieve all those guardian angels hovering. To lighten their workload. To take up the work myself. To BE the eyes, the hands, the smile, the tissue, the voice, the applause, the light, the love… the keyboard. Enjoy anew.
the work of angel wings
angel wings are all around us
in an invisible embrace.
they are the rustle of leaves on a tree
as we walk by.
they are the tiny stars we can barely see
and the halo around the lights at night.
the angels are our companions.
they see us when noone is there
with eyes that soothe a troubled spirit.
they sing us the songs in our head.
angel wings shoo away some of our memories
when we need more time to say goodbye.
they stir up the gentle breeze
of a deep breath and a sigh when we start again.
they soak up our tears
and they fan the sparkle in our eyes when we laugh.
at times the angels back away
when they sense someone has seen them
and the brush of their wings.
when they know one of us has learned their way
and thus joined the myriad.
listen…
you can hear the quiet flutter of flight.
the moment when the eyes
or the voice
or the hands of a human
takes over
to do the work of angel wings.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the heavens
the angels were silent in anticipation.
For centuries they had waited for such a special flight,
and now it would happen this very night.
In the throne room the Father talked with His Son
of dreams and desires and what was to come.
“My Son, I’ve loved them since breathing their life,
and for years they’ve suffered with sin and strife.
Now it’s time to offer them relief,
for the groan of their sorrow is more than I can take.”
“Oh, Father, I’ve begun to feel their yearning
even before I take my journey.
The weight of their burden is heavy on my back.
I can almost feel the sting of their attacks.
Inside me the sadness of leaving burns,
but, Father, I can bring them when I return.”
“Yes, we’ll be united with our bride.
She’ll no longer have a reason to hide.
And, you’ll return to me, this I know.
But now, my love, You must go.
Gabriel! Come! Assemble your band.
For the birth of My Son is now at hand.”
With the stroke of His hand He split the sky.
As He watched the departure He heaved a sigh,
for He knew the sin His Son would endure
and the punishment of death–His suffering was sure.
But, this night all of heaven would rejoice
as they hailed the mystery of the Master’s choice
to limit Himself to the form of a babe
to bring reunion with those He would save.
So as He dripped a star from His fingertips
praises rang from the angels’ lips,
but the Father was quiet, a tear on His cheek
from the painful price required for peace.
And, from the joy He saw in ages to come,
when all His children would join Him at home.
So this night before Christmas as you drift to sleep,
and He sends His hosts with protection and peace,
may you keep His love for you well in sight,
and Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
7th Day of Christmas: Song in the Heavens
SCENE:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14)
SYNTAX:
Heavens.
the sky or universe as seen from the earth, firmament; the abode of God and the
Angels
SONG:
Gabriel! Come. Assemble your band,
for the birth of My Son is now at hand.
Harmonies layered with the brush of wings
as each cherubim and seraphim sings.
Glorious! Glorious! Make your praise glorious
with every refrain made more melodious
by the sound of all creatures, the heavens and the earth
pounding in praise of His miraculous birth.
Myriads and myriads of angels sound
the joyous news that peace has been found
in the babe, God’s Son, and brought to all men.
Glory to God in the highest, AMEN!
1st Day of Christmas: Song of the Messenger
SCENE:
And the angel came in unto her, and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women… And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus.” (luke 1:28, 31-33)
SYNTAX:
Messenger.
an envoy, a prophet, a bearer of
News
SONG:
Wonder filled my face when His Highness gave the news
that I was to deliver, and my heart was quite confused.
He said He’d send His Son into a human’s womb
to be born upon the earth, and it would happen soon.
The Beloved would be leaving – an awesome revelation,
entrusted to this woman, just a mere creation.
The thoughts of the Omniscient I seldom can surmise,
but I always do His bidding, trusting He is wise.
Of the countless missions I’ve been given for His cause,
this one bears a sadness not seen since Eden’s loss.
His Highness calls it “love”, which no angel’s ever known.
The only ones that know it bear an image like His own.
This “love” has often grieved Him since that moment long ago.
But, somehow now His Son will enable it to grow.
This, a thought too lofty for angelic minds to see,
is the reason for my message to the one in Galilee.
Heaven holds a mystery, some enigmatic plan,
deep within Almighty that I don’t understand.
When You choose to send me, to go is my reply.
But, if I could be human, I know I’d ask You why.
SEARCH:
“things into which angels long to look” — I’ve always been fascinated by that verse in 1 Peter. It reminds me that salvation is a plan designed for humans. How gracious it was of God to create us with the ability to choose or reject Him. It was at great personal cost to him, considering His powerful love for mankind. How it must grieve Him to be rejected.
I’ve often wondered what angels think of humans and the plan God has to redeem us. I’m sure they were baffled by man’s choice in Eden and equally as baffled by God’s choice to take on flesh. I wonder from Gabriel’s perspective if the “good news” was really good from heaven’s side. Although their view of God’s plan is somewhat veiled, their view of God Himself is unimpeded. They must have missed the nearness of His presence on that Bethlehem night.
© 2008 Haley Montgomery
Filed under Poetry + Word Pictures, Soul + Spirit | Comment (0)the work of angel wings
angel wings are all around us
in an invisible embrace.
they are the rustle of leaves on a tree
as we walk by.
they are the tiny stars we can barely see
and the halo around the lights at night.
the angels are our companions.
they see us when noone is there
with eyes that soothe a troubled spirit.
they sing us the songs in our head.
angel wings shoo away some of our memories
when we need more time to say goodbye.
they stir up the gentle breeze
of a deep breath and a sigh when we start again.
they soak up our tears
and they fan the sparkle in our eyes when we laugh.
at times the angels back away
when they sense someone has seen them
and the brush of their wings.
when they know one of us has learned their way
and thus joined the myriad.
listen…
you can hear the quiet flutter of flight.
the moment when the eyes
or the voice
or the hands of a human
takes over
to do the work of angel wings.
Filed under Poetry + Word Pictures | Comment (0)
