new poem: Season of Love

Season of Love
by Job Conger

It’s the time of the season,
people go into hock
buying presents for others
and enduring the schlock –
the retail overselling –
as we push and we shove.
It’s a shame we forget that
it’s a season of love.
-
From a brother to sister,
from a mom to a dad,
like a breath to revive us
in a time that’s gone bad.
Let’s remember the reason
for the way that it’s done,
as our God up in heaven
gave us his only son.
-
Though the shiny, wrapped present
isn’t myrrh or fine gold,
we rejoice in the reason
that the scriptures have told
why we give unto others
as He gave from above.
I will follow the wise men
in a season of love.

(refrain, if singing)
Though Emmanuel’s coming
seems removed from today,
we rejoice in remembering
for He showed us the way.
-
It’s the way to forgiveness
in the gifts that we bring,
and a heaven’s assurance
in the songs that we sing
all to say that “I love you”
like our father above,
and I follow the Father
in a season of love.

written December 12, 1993

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Gordon Lightfoot sings many poems put to music, and I call poems many songs I write when I print or speak and do not sing them with my guitar. For a long time I was looking for a song to rationalize this business of giving. All the music I knew celebrated the day with no connecting to modern giving OR talked about presents without talking about the big birthday. This song makes the connection. I’ve sung it in some churches (not enough) and at many parties (not enough).  More than my simple affirmation of my faith, I believe in the melody and consider my writing it a blessed gift from a higher power. I hope you liked it.
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To all readers of this blog, I extend best wishes for a warm, reverent and rewarding Christmas. If you don’t believe in Christmas, I wish you a pleasant Sunday just the same.
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Live long . . . . . . . . and proper.