Hymn for Advent

Baffled in darkness, we are lost,

Wandering in the night.

All of our paths are evil-crossed.

Come to us, Lord of Light,

For here we stumble and despair

Left to our strength alone.

Sorrow and failure in the air

Chill us to the bone.

The winter night is long and cold

And darker than a tomb,

But not as dark as hearts that hold

For you no vacant room.

The darkness deepens, and the night

Gathers around us; where is dawn?

Come to us, Lord of lasting Light;

Our feeble flame is gone.

Taught by the prophets' joyful Word

We await a savior's birth.

Prepare us for your coming, Lord,

Into the fallen earth.

Come to the terror-troubled land

Where always war draws near

And evil spreads on every hand

Its ministries of fear.

Thaw out the nearly frozen heart

With warm, incarnate love;

Reveal your precious healing art

In flights of the Holy Dove,

And bring to all the weary earth

The power to love and cope;

Bring to us on your day of birth

Fresh joy, and Peace, and Hope.

FRANCIS FIKE*

* Francis Fike is Professor of English at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. His most recent collection of verse is After the Serpent's Word (Fithian Press, 1997).

Copyright Anglican Theological Review, Inc. Fall 1999
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved