The candle for the third week of Advent represents joy, specifically the joy that the shepherds felt when they heard the news from the angels that the Savior of the World had been born. Having a candle represent joy reminds me that joy can come suddenly, that it can feel undeserved, but that it springs from love—love from others, love for others, love for the world we live in. This week, I am sharing a favorite poem by Li-Young Lee (who is, incidentally, one of my favorite contemporary poets). I don’t have any eloquent commentary on this poem; I think that it speaks for itself. But I hope that by reading it, you are reminded of the times where joy leads to joy leads to joy, and how the simple and large are intimately entwined. Don’t be afraid to embrace joy when it comes to you, even if you feel unworthy or scared.
From Blossoms, by Li-Young Lee
From blossoms comes
this brown paper bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the bend in the road where we
turned toward
signs painted Peaches.
From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside,
succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and
all,
comes the familiar dust of summer,
dust we eat.
O, to take what we love inside,
To carry within us an orchard, to
eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days,
to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it,
then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.
There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet
impossible blossom.
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