They blow like ghosts
silent
across the floor,
singularly focused upon
the wind’s bitterness.
The cold is no longer
merely a meteorological phenomenon
but the devil himself,
a million needle sharp teeth
tearing through exposed flesh.
Betrayed by Southern accents,
I think to myself,
“these men would find 40 degrees unpleasant”
This must be hell frozen over.
Reflection on Psalm 113 from Soil of the Divine.
Who can fathom the Lord’s transcendence?
Could billions of galaxies
or even the whole universe
even begin to contain Him?
Could the combined wisdom of time
even begin to categorize Him?
It is impossible
to even begin
to grasp the Infinite.
Yet He looks down,
far down.
Transcendence transcending
infinite space to attend
to the finite and fragile
by becoming the most fragile
tiny babe born
to teen mother
in a stable of wood.
The intermingling
of transcendence
and immanence
is unfathomable.
Yet in that vulnerable infant–
seven pounds
and fully dependent–
God condensed infinity.
Did the stars open their eyes widely?
Did the trees tremble with excitement?
Did the clouds crowd in
to get a glimpse of the newborn Savior?
Did the rocks cry out?
Did the grasses whisper and wave?
Did the streams and falls and rivers
sing in harmony at the sound of the baby’s cry?
All of creation echoes the psalmist
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel
who alone does wondrous things.
blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!”
Meanwhile,
We turn our eyes upon the latest gadgets
We tremble at the newest hit song
We crowd in to get a glimpse of pre-Chrismtas deals.
Meanwhile,
We cry out, in anger, that a clerk failed to wish us a “Merry Christmas”
We murmur and grumble about unfair treatment
We sing not worship, but discord.
Meanwhile, meanwhile
we lose sight
of the One who sets all things right
This Christmas
open your eyes widely
tremble with excitement
crowd around the manger
cry out with joy
whisper thanksgiving
sing a lullaby to the One who makes all things well.
-December 2015
I’m just a lowly carpenter,
building things of wood;
I put my heart and soul in this,
my buildings firm and good.
I’ve asked a girl to be my wife,
young Mary, sweet and kind;
a flower so pure and lovely,
I was blessed to find.
With longing anticipation,
I’ll await our wedding day;
I’ll protect the virtue of this girl
and keep my desire at bay.
The whisperings I hear in town
say “Mary is with child.”
“It can’t be true” I tell myself
my fears are running wild.
O God, I’m hurt and weeping
this pain, I cannot bear;
she dashed my heart upon the rocks
leaving fragments of despair.
Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace
I cry to you for aid;
the law says I should stone her
but I can’t. I am afraid.
I will divorce her quietly
the most mercy I can show;
A woman deserving death
will just be left alone.
I’ll buckle down, back to work
forget about our plans;
swinging a hammer is what I know,
not being a married man.
Tonight I dreamed a wondrous dream,
God’s angel spoke to me;
rekindling my cooling fire,
he said “let the marriage be.”
“Don’t be afraid, strong Joseph
to take Mary as your wife;
the life that grows inside her
is the Messiah’s life.”
I awoke excited and with dread
the Christ will be my son;
what can this lowly carpenter
teach the Maker of the Sun?
I’ll take the girl as my wife
we’ll raise Immanuel;
“God with us” will live with us
the Savior come to dwell.
-December 2016
One holy night
in Bethlehem town
a child was born
the Savior came down.
Not just a child
but a King came to earth
this small swaddled babe
the noblest birth.
Our Wonderful Counselor
God fully wise
His knowledge and insight
filling the skies.
The most Mighty God
magnificent in power
nothing impossible
for Christ, our strong tower.
Everlasting Father
with unfailing love
cradles his children
both here and above.
The Prince of Peace
restoring shalom
Heaven’s wholeness he brought
to our earthly home.
The Son condescended
in the form of a child
The Almighty incarnate
God and man reconciled.
John the Revelator
in 20 and one,
told of earth’s passing
when the new has begun.
Earth in its suffering
shall pass away,
perfection restored
when God comes that day.
We’re promised no pain
all mourning shall cease,
death itself dies
and not just disease.
Our crying will halt
as God wipes our tears,
yet one thought lingers
or perhaps it’s a fear.
When God wipes away
the tears from my face,
are they just tears of pain
or will all be erased?
For I treasure those tears
that flow from joy’s well,
at the goodness of God
these warm droplets swell.
Jesus, my longing
is to happily weep,
as you say “Welcome home.
Come and rest, little sheep.”
See young men enflamed
pondering God’s fame
knowing holy words
leaves them self-assured.
Fast growing knowledge
scriptural college
read theology
what the learned see.
See them equating
knowledge inflating
with godly wisdom
blind to the schism.
Knowledge, yes, is good
God’s word understood
but wisdom it’s not
they differ a lot.
Knowledge puffs us up
wisdom teaches love
Knowledge is a start
toward wisdom’s heart.
Wisdom grows from life
in comfort and strife
lived before the Lord
in all things, adored.
From my book, Soil of the Divine
In God’s hand
is a chalice
full with wine
dark red
nearly black
and foaming
flavored with His wrath
vengeance
judgment
poured for the wicked.
In the garden, late
dark skies, nearly black,
Jesus wept
and pleaded
with his Father,
“Let this cup pass,
there must be another way
to appease Your wrath
vengeance
judgment,
but if not
let me drink
to the dregs.”
And he drank it all.
He has mixed for us
a new wine
sparkling white
and sweet.
Grace
mercy
and peace
its bouquet.
Christ saved
his best wine,
the cup of forgiveness,
for his bride.
For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup
With foaming wine, well mixed,
And He pours out from it,
and all the wicked of the earth
Shall drain it down to the dregs.
-Psalm 75:8
Would you trade your eyes
not for crystal blue or emerald green,
not for those with perfect acuity?
Would you trade your eyes
for those that see beneath
physical beauty and external adornment
or marital or career success,
or conversely see beneath
sin and brokenness?
Would you trade your eyes
for those that see
the beauty and goodness in another’s soul,
God’s image imprinted upon each person?
Would you trade your eyes for them?
What I if told you
they are already yours?
You have only to open them.
Image obtained from REBRN
I initially wrote this in 2009, the year my wife was treated for breast cancer.
Cherished Father,
Thank you for creating in me a heart designed for gratitude
and this year, in particular, for reminding me
to be grateful
I thank you for the undeserved gift of your Son.
I am utterly broken whenever I ponder the cross
and Jesus’ sacrifice
and Yours
That saved me from an eternity of despair
Thank you for the gift of my wife
the woman whom you have entrusted to me
who has remained my joy
and my love
Thank you for my children
who live with vitality and passion every moment
and who look bravely to the future
casting a vision unclouded by doubt or fear
Thank you for adopting us as your children
demonstrating that we are true heirs in your kingdom
and allowing us to share that gift of adoption
with one of your precious little ones
Thank you for dear family and friends
who help us, support us, and love us
who we met on this journey
and who walk with us along the way
Thank you for secure employment
and a desire work diligently
to provide support for my family
Thank you for teaching trust
encouraging hope and
deepening faith
through Heather’s cancer
Lord, above all
I thank you for your never ending mercies
which remind me forever of your greatness
and instill hope that endures no matter what storms we encounter
Jason Kanz 