Inching towards the light in advent...

One of my favorite poets, Scott Cairns, has written this Advent prayer that nails it for me as this day comes to an end.

Holy God,
who is with us, may we lean into every moment of our days to redeem the time,
to make the most of every moment.
May we prepare the visible Body of Christ, our community,
to receive your eternal approach and your loving embrace.
With our faces turned to you,
we await your holy descent, and ask, Lord, that your hear our prayer
offered in humility:

That despite the roar of our days, our hearts might grow still.
That glimpsing the quiet cove, we may seek you in that stillness.
That resting in your presence, our hearts might be prepared to hear you.
That the angel of God might visit the chambers of our hearts.
That the angel of God might say to us, "Rejoice."
That we might hear, and truly respond in joy.
That the angel of God might say to us, "Receive."
That the servant of God might respond, "Let it be as you say."
That our hearts might become fertile wombs in which new life begins.
That we may apprehend the infant life within.

That we might embrace the infant life.
That we may walk with care to bring about the new birth.
That we may witness the seed of God bearing Holy Fruit.
As the season of Incarnation approaches, as we prepare to receive Life in all its fullness, may we taste and see how our own lives, the life of the world and the very breath of the universe, flow to us from the Holy One made flesh. O Lord, hear our prayer.

I am totally loving Maggi Dawn's Advent book - and her song "I Will Wait" - also nails it for me this season.