Yes, I know it’s not Friday. But it is Ascension Day.

This is an old post, but this morning when I woke very early, I just knew I wanted to post it again for the joy of it – and the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes that reading it always produces.

It is a poem I wrote one year when life was hard – and it took me ten minutes to write down the words.  God speaks to me every time I read it.

I pray He may speak to you too and that it may bring you a sense of the glorious wonder of this event on this Ascension Day, 2018.

Home-Coming

The halls of heaven were silent.

Barely breathing, the saints,

Some newly arrived, some old hands,

Watched the scene below.

Angel wings slowed to a heartbeat

As if the anticipated excitement

Was too much for movement.

Every gaze was locked on the hillside

Where men milled around,

Where women wandered

And children chased each other

Caught up in the moment.

As one, heaven gasped,

And one young saint,

Too excited to stay quiet any longer

Whispered, ‘Here He comes.’

Noise and light grew stronger

As the whispers turned to shouts of joy

And the light, which was the glory of God

Pulsated to a rhythm known only to the Father.

And He came. Ascended, risen Lord;

The Son of God,

The Darling of Heaven!

Now the halls of heaven rang with Hallelujahs.

Angels turned somersaults and sang praises,

Saints, young and old, shouted greetings

And Jesus stood, inside the gates

Of iridescent pearl . . .

And smiled.

He stood – and gently the noise grew soft and faded.

All movement ceased; and silence reigned;

But the light – the glory of God –

Grew ever brighter; until neither saint nor angel

Could bear to look;

And in the brightness, footsteps could be heard

As God the Father stepped forward,

Arms open wide, and greeted His Beloved

With a strong embrace and tears of joy:

‘Welcome home, My Son.’