We thought of God as distant,
Hidden somewhere in the clouds
Up there, unapproachable,
A deity too far away,
One that would not be interested,
Would never come close
For fear of getting his hands dirty.
Then a young woman from Nazareth,
And some mud spattered hillside shepherds,
And a clutch of saddle-worn weary stargazers,
Brought us their story.
God is with us,
Born in the dark and the night,
Knowing trouble and poverty,
Cold, oppression and struggle.
Emmanuel – God with us,
Precious and perfect,
Knowable and loving,
Compassionate and kind.
A humble God,
A world-changing rescuer,
With understanding in his hands,
And life-giving truth in his heart,
Gritty and glorious,
And on our side,
God with us.