A Christmas Poem

By John Robert Howell



The splendor of that infinite light-emblazoned
firmament
Marked the nightly vigil's silent and
meditative hours
Of those wakeful, watchful, scientific
avatars,
Who pondered not dusty constellations of
earth's deceptions,
But the higher lessons witnessed in
God's refulgence
Thus to  behold the glow of that eldritch
eastern star,
Herald of Jesus' nativity, Light's advent
in the flesh,
That event once and not to be
repeated,
Yet for those whose receptive hearts
wander wearily
Among the darkly lighted trails and
travails of mortality
The promise of that holy dawn blesses
all eternally.

Excerpts from "The Significance of Christmas"

These words were written by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and are from "Miscellany", page 260:

        "In Christian Science, Christmas stands for the real, the absolute and eternal, -- for the things of Spirit, not of matter.  Science is divine; it hath no partnership with human means and ends, no half-way stations.  Nothing conditional or material belongs to it."

        "The basis of Christmas is the rock, Christ Jesus; its fruits are inspiration and spiritual understanding of joy and rejoicing, -- not because of tradition, usage, or corporeal pleasures, but because of fundamental and demonstrable truths, because of the heaven within us.  The basis of Christmas is love loving its enemies, returning good for evil, love that suffereth long, and is kind,'  The true spirit of Christmas elevates medicine to Mind; it casts out evils, heals the sick, raises the dormant faculties appeals to all conditions, and supplies every need of man.  It leaves hygiene, medicine, ethics, and religion to God and His Christ, to that which is the Way, in word and in deed, - the Way, the Truth, and the Life."      

A Christmas Message

This card came, with beautiful words for the season:

"In Him
             we have the greatest joy,
                                the sweetest peace,
                                                the highest hope --

May the love of Jesus,
the purpose of His life,
and the gift of His salvation
touch your heart in a
special way this Christmas.

"Unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
                 (Luke 2:11 KJV)
 

December's Goal - And Way Beyond

         From Matthew 28:19, 20, our beloved Christ Jesus' command
                              to follow in all time:



                "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
                baptizing them in the name of the Father,
                and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
                teaching them to observe all things
                whatsoever I have commanded you;
                and lo, I am with you alway,
                even unto the end of the world.  Amen."



                              What a wonderful December
                                              and all next year that  
                                                       awaits us all who do this!