A dream

After Matthew 2:1-15

The visitors left eastward,

having delivered their gifts

of gold, of frankincense,

of myrrh, of worship. 

Then a dream: an angel

of light telling a story

of darkness, a story

of such urgency that

the dreamer woke and

left. The dreamer did

what he was told,

remaining quietly

beyond the hand

holding the knife. 

In time came the call

to return, the call foretold,

the call foreshadowed

by an exodus from Egypt.

Photograph by Federico Bottos via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Pivot point

After Matthew 2:1-15

History pivoted

in their small town

in the hills, down

the road from one

capital and even

farther from another.

History pivoted here,

though, positioned

between the king

of death and the city

of refuge, with travelers

providing the catalyst

for the pivot to turn,

told to be good reporters

and tell the story, instead

becoming protectors,

moving another way,

refusing to tell the story

so that the story 

might not end but

be told.

Photograph by Buenas Dicas via Unsplash. Used with permission.