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In midwinter
the world comes indoors
and is our guest of honor.
Arms hug the arriving logs
that clatter in to take their place by the fire.
Mouths kiss the prickly branches of holly
so elegant in green and red.
The forest, which we’ve called and asked to come,
travels long roads to get here.
Finally she arrives, tired, but still bursting
with the energy of high mountain cascades and starry nights.
She tumbles across the threshold
to be fussed over until she is comfortably settled
in the living room.
Soon the whole house is filled
with the world’s presence.
And it is up to us now
to make her feel at home.
Let this be the year
we fully welcome the world,
and treat her right,
and lift our glasses in a toast to her,
and thank her,
and keep our resolutions,
and mean it when we say,
Joy to the World.

by Rebecca Parker, Theologian in Residence and Minister for Adult Spiritual Formation, All Souls Church Unitarian, Washington, DC