My Preparatory Journey Towards Daily Intentional Leadership
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Twelve Days of Christmas as told via a Catholic Poet
On the first day of Christmas our love the creator gave us Jesus, as a gift. He taught us “love one another” and with his birth, a light, bringing understanding of the Torah and some Christian ideas also. Like the golden rule “Love they neighbour as they self. No other commandment is greater than this.”
On the Second day of Christmas the turtle doves married in the pear tree. Their nest represents a bond between the Old Testament and the new.
On the Third day of Christmas Three French hens arrived in the yard. Their names where: Faith, Hope and Love. Their eggs provided nourishment to the family of God.
On the Fourth day of Christmas four calling birds sang songs of the four New Testament gospels. “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you.”
On the Fifth day of Christmas the house of God revisited the Torah and returned home with five golden rings, ringing the wisdom of the Pentateuch.
On the Sixth day of Christmas Six geese gandered in, quack, quacking the six days of creation.
On the Seventh day of Christmas, 7 swans arrived, swimming up the river into the grounds; each one was named after the gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion.
And after 7 days of Christmas celebrations, five more gifts remained. Now, since the gardens where filled with happy noises, birds and family, the last 5 days where a festival of dancing and music.
On the eighth day of Christmas eight milk maids arrived to milk the family cows, they where lovely ladies, full of joy and laughter, and each one had a blessing to give to the family members and children.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.”
“Blessed are the meek for they shall possess the earth.”
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice for they shall be satisfied.”
“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
On the ninth day of Christmas, nine ladies danced with streamers. They taught everyone how to dance and they embodied love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
On the tenth day of Christmas, the men arrived, 10 lords a leaping. They danced and leapt in a more serious, though equally joyful way. Along with leaping, they laid down the ground rules of sportsmanship and good play in life.
There were only two days of Christmas left to go. . .
On the 11th day of Christmas in came eleven faithful pipers piping. These are the names on their pipes: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the zealot, and Judas son of James.
Epiphany is almost here! And our Catholic faith completely remembered.
On the last day of Christmas, came twelve drummers drumming. The lyrics of their song went like this:
1) I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ his only son our lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, he descended into Hell, 5) on the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy Catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body and 12) life everlasting.
The kids and family drummed along with the drummers all day. And then the celebration of Epiphany began! And that was the remembrance of the day when the three wise men brought their gifts to the baby Jesus.
Also see the article that inspired this one: http://www.catholic.org/clife/advent/advent.php?id=2
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The day of our Lord’s birth
Vrrrrrrroooooooooom, swrrrrrrrrrrosh
Above
Invisible in a December sky
Heavy and snowy laden
A jetliner sounds
Its driving propulsions
Towards joyful embraces
In celebration
Of the day of our lord’s birth
# # # #
Home
Bustle of happenings
In the little space
Between here and there
# # # #
Travelers
We are travelers, with purpose
On the journey, in loving exploration
Of humankind’s potential
And I am glad to have you
As my guide
# # # #
Miracles of ice netting
On a silent winter’s night
Snowflakes
Gently drifting
Miracles of translucent ice netting
Beautiful packages delivered all at once
Chosen, wrapped and mailed
As if by benevolent angels
As if as a gift to envelop the world
# # # #
In good faith
Forgiveness
Is such an easy word to say
It lives on honest tongues
Softens clear eyes
Humbles both the recipient and
Requestor
Forgiving what?
Bring days of joyful peace
And let all that was
Evaporate
# # # #
Nous Apprenons
Let’s make friends
Nous allons faire des amis
The French say ‘faire’ “make’
Faire l’amour
Build a home, faire une maison
Do our task, faire notre travail
And we say ‘do’?
& build &
Make
Canadians could
Learn from
French
# # # #
Christmas Pageant at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre
There’s chilly in the warmers and cocoa in the canisters of the barn house
Cookies, directly from the kitchens of good mothers, or wives,
Or directly from the kitchens of good nuns perhaps
Cookies certainly, directly from the kitchens of good women, or good men I assume?
Why should I imagine only women bake?
Monks, perhaps? or father bakers with their children, licking cookie dough from stir spoons and beaters
This is a Christmas pageant festival at a rural monastic retreat center
And all the time it has taken me to contemplate the cookie source,
My toes and fingers are tingling with cold.
# # # #
Of Earth and Heaven
The Peruvian artisan tenderly paints
Stars and snowflakes
These draw our minds
To Jerusalem’s pastures
Angels and Shepherds
Celebrating the first Noel
# # # #
Anticipation and embracing
With the innocence of a child who knows and understands
With the wisdom of the monastic sage
The innate goodness and happiness
The pureness
Love of God and others endows
Is also
Anticipation and embracing
The festivals, carols, cocoa and lights
The laughter and cuddles with grandma’s boney arms and plush bellies,
And long visits with relatives
Each
Brightening, prolonging the season of Joy
# # # #
Epiphany!
