Swaddling Cloths: Contain Love’s Form

Rev. Kris Light

 She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.
Luke 2:7 CEB

"Hold me tight," she says to Joseph.  Like a kitten held at arms length, limbs splayed, fearfully searching for the ground, her eyes repeat, "Just hold me tight for a while." Sometimes a body needs to be held together, to reclaim those pieces centrifugal force is pulling apart. We need swaddling.
Did the Author of the Universe emerge from Mary's womb limbs splayed, body quaking, searching for human comfort in the tight circle of her arms? Did she, grown herself within the wisdom of women, reach for bands of cloth to contain Love's shimmering, shivering form, to hold his exquisite need for her within torn strips of linen?
Love's fullness grown within womb's embrace meets a yeasty explosion of scents and sounds in the dark shelter Mary accepts as home for the night. "Hold me tight," God bellows. And she does.

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Author of space and time, hold us tight as we attempt to hold you tight in our hearts this holiday season. Amen.

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Kris is pastor of UniPlace Christian Church on the corner of the University of Illinois campus in Urbana - Champaign. Married to Ed Taylor she enjoys their combined total of 6 young adult children and 4 precious grandchildren. Previously serving Disciples congregations in Nebraska, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kansas and Georgia, she is now putting down deep roots in Champaign and Ford counties in Illinois. Gardening, home restoration projects, sewing, writing and crafting are her idea of a really good time.

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