IF

If He had come
Down to the earth
The way I would have done,
When I was young,
We humans would
Have never known Him.
 
I would have
Forced my will
Upon the world,
Imposing fear
On frail mortality,
Unbending pressure,
Hammering humanity
To its knees,
Forcing submission
Deaf to its pleas,
Demanding worship.
 
I would have brought
My Word to bear
And taught
The meaning of my fullness,
Strength
And power,
No one could face
My presence.
The human race
Would be at my command
And never stand
My glory,
Nor ever rise
To meet me,
Nor ever rise
To greet me.
 
Now I am wiser,
Older,
And I understand
God's unveiled power
Would destroy
The land,
And all we love
And know.
 
And so,
God came in
Human frailty,
He entered
Vulnerability
And need.
 
And on one wintry night,
Within a stable cave,
Almighty God
Became a babe,
Humble and naked,
Helpless Jesus,
Yet mighty to save.
 
Love,
Laid down
In a manger,
Laid down
Its power,
That Christmas hour.
He is no stranger,
And laid low
Our fear.
And Now,
We can
Draw near.