A poem by Chaplain Kevin White
I have been to the darkest place,
I have walked in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Love was violently torn away.
I wasn't sure how to catch my next breath.
And then I met that group of people,
the beautiful people who come here to share,
to look in the eye, to tell their story,
to let their broken heart lay bare.
I saw something magical happen that night,
as darkness met darkness it sparked a new light.
As stories were told how their lives had been torn,
we know how they felt, and new friendships were born.
Heartbreak, injustice, anger, despair;
whispers and shouting all gathered there.
Yet love and respect soon filled the room,
a glimmer of hope to crowd out the doom.
Now Christmas is coming, we view it with dread.
How can we have a season of joy with the dead?
Someone is missing and it's not by our choice.
It almost feels wrong to sing songs and rejoice.
The birth of Christ is the hope of this season,
but salvation through his violent death was the reason.
Out of HIs brokenness beauty was born.
Could God do the same with these hearts that are torn?
Look at this room, all the laughing and talking
Making new friends, still upright and walking.
We have walked through the darkness,
We have caught our next breath.
We support and encourage
the next family touched by death.
It's amazing to see how far we have come
Since that very first moment when everything went numb.
Out of our weakness and brokenness and pain,
comes our love and compassion for each other and we gain....
New strength, new hope. New purposes arise
and to look at you all, is beautiful in my eyes.
I thank God for the privilege of being here tonight
with these beautiful, brave people, they are a beautiful sight.
This Christmas, God has been loving and kind.
He has brought some Peace and Joy to my mind.
Through the broken and beautiful people. It's true!
God's gift of love has come here.... It's you!
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