Into the Longing (a poem for Advent) by Jody Seymour

Crying out in a wilderness
of questions unanswered
is a longing to know
that the path which
goes through the darkness
leads to the light

Buried like some treasure
in our fields of
a life that becomes
too ordinary,
we long to discover
a hidden wholeness
that holds us

And then comes another voice
not of our own,
“Prepare the way in
the wilderness”
A crying out of a
coming one
who longs to care for
all who will receive
his offer

The treasure no longer hidden
waits for our finding
“Emmanuel” is no title
preserved in ancient words
It is made real
in the midst of
all our wilderness journeys
“God is with us”

But listen, O pilgrim
and hear what
now comes into your
longing,
“God is with…you”

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Jody Seymour retired after serving Davidson United Methodist Church as Senior Pastor for 13 years and being a pastor for forty-six years in the Western North Carolina Conference. He is the author of six books and resides just outside of Davidson with his wife, Betsy.