For Unto Us Is Born
by Stephen Muse

The first nine months were a breeze, filling the heart with sweet anticipation. I discover in the last 12 hours how the shorter the wait, the longer it becomes. Flesh softens to the Divine hand. The cervix expands like a rising sun, and a new world appears on the horizon for the first time. A new “crowning” is taking place in the world.

Every child is royalty, king and queen as they enter in disguise from the lowliest place, hidden
amidst a sudden rush of interest in bodily processes. Here, soul is clothed in flesh as Spiritbearing seed, who one day will be born and receive a new crown. Then all attention will be given to anticipating the birth of flesh-bearing Spirit, hidden within the mystery of the second birth, where soul sheds the garment of skin entirely in order to enter the world a second time with the inheritance of a new body and a permanent unfading crown of glory.

Now hours seem like seconds—Elizabeth Jane Hardy is here in our midst, all 8 pounds 21.5 inches of her, trailing stardust in her wake. The Spirit has hovered over the waters for nine months and now takes her in arms, drawing life into lungs that offer antiphonal response to the heart’s drumming reminder of the partnership between Creator and created—an internal Divine Liturgy holding everything together, bringing lifegiving blood to all parts of the kingdom.

Well-formed ears, longggg fingers and big feet. So much detail. Claudia and I both think she looks like Granddaddy Trevathan. Her eyes slowly open and wander about. She is finding a wondrous world and doesn’t realize she is wondrous to the world. There is no cry until the nurse’s needle pricks her feet to draw blood to tell the story of her vitality.

The power her vulnerability brings to change the world is enormous. Every eye and look of soul is upon her entrance and remains present in wonder. Mother and father are speechless and in new territory as Elizabeth takes her first mouthful and Christi feels her milk drop. “I can feel it!” she says. Jonathan holds her in awe, and she looks up at him, both embracing in the mystery of the silence.

Yia Yia Claudia is smiling with joy, and Papou is grateful to God. His mind bows and considers what gifts to bring this child, unsure any will be worthy of what she deserves. He feels a little uncouth and coarse, like shepherds used to stony pastures and cold nights as the field of his soul is brightened and blessed just a little by the glow of this one, who comes with the angels, visiting from another world with messages written all over her and whispers of joy ringing silently in every direction for those with ears to hear:

Glory, glory, glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among all of good will. For unto us a child is born who bears the image of our Savior in Whom and through Whom and for Whom she is born this day in the city of Columbus. Rejoice and be glad for she is destined for the great Temple of the Holy Spirit, being built stone by living stone in the New Jerusalem, of whom Christ is the cornerstone. The soft glow of joy from the Lamb of God, who enlightens the world, blends with the bright words of angels whose voices mingle with the praise of humanity. Rejoice on Earth.