I choose to Advent. That is not a typo. Advent as a verb is engagement, choice, participation. Advent waits for God, who promises, accompanies us and celebrates with us when the promise is fulfilled. Advent is a verb and writing is one way I activate it in myself. So this year, I’m going to post the poems I write during these days. Obviously, since this is Dec 5, this isn’t going to happen every day — but hopefully they’ll be a few — hot off the press.

This poem is from the story cycle of the Jesse Tree, which begins at Creation and wanders toward Bethlehem. It is one of my favourite stories – the story of Hagar and Ishmael. And it speaks to anyone who has ever felt used, rejected, sidelined, abused, disposable, unimportant…so, I’m pretty sure that includes everyone. I know it includes me.

(Hagar is the first character in the Bible who names God — Elroi, which means God Sees, because she felt seen by God in her distress. And Hagar is told to name her son Ishmael – God Hears, by the angel.)

Not Chosen

Hagar, forced into the story,
teeters always on the edge
of a false plot: births an heir
who becomes a spare, then cast away
as a threat to the promise — now,
is that a laughing matter?

Look at how we all muddle
the story. God-Sees, God-Hears
is the One who keeps promises
made to both —
the chosen
and the Not Chosen.

© 2020 Laurel Archer