Welcome to Spiritual Life
Opening Words
The Moment of Magic
Now is the moment of magic,
when the whole, round earth turns again toward the sun,
and here's a blessing:
the days will
be longer and brighter now,
even before the winter settles in to chill us.
Now is the moment of magic,
when people beaten down and broken,
with
nothing left but misery and candles and their own clear voices,
kindle tiny
lights and whisper secret music,
and here's a blessing:
the dark
universe is suddenly illuminated by the lights of the menorah,
suddenly
ablaze with the lights of the kinara,
and the whole world is glad and loud
with winter singing.
Now is the moment of magic,
when an eastern star beckons the ignorant
toward an unknown goal,
and here's a blessing:
they find
nothing in the end but an ordinary baby,
born at midnight, born in poverty,
and the baby's cry, like bells ringing,
makes people wonder as they wander
through their lives,
what human love might really look like,
sound like,
feel like.
Now is the moment of magic,
and here's a blessing:
we already
possess all the gifts we need;
we've already received our presents:
ears
to hear music,
eyes to behold lights,
hands to build true peace on earth
and to hold each other tight in love.
Source: Unitarian Universalist Association Meditation Manual "Walking Toward Morning." Skinner House. 2003.
Copyright: The author has given Unitarian Universalist Association member congregations permission to reprint this piece for use in public worship. Any reprints must acknowledge the name of the author.
Last updated on Wednesday, January 23, 2008.
