On Sunday, preceding the reading of Matthew 1:1-17, we listened to the dramatic presentation of the poem included below. In the richness of the words is a creative and powerful interpretation of an emotional Joseph wrestling through the reality of the news of Mary's pregnancy. After watching the embedded video below and reading the words to the poem, read Matthew 1:1-17.
In the Silence - a poem written and performed by Wesley Rozenboom
"Joseph, how could you be such a fool. The women I love I now know has known another man, and is with child.
I need to just keep walking and not turn around cause there’s nothing for me back there.
at least not anymore.
So I keep putting one foot in front of the other as I consider these things.
What I thought was a promise etched in stone turned out to be a breeze that left me alone.
Now all I hear is the silence.
The incestuous sound that wont stop saying nothing will ever be the same
the silence that gives way to the raging river of my thoughts.
Have the leaves really stopped rustling?
Has the wind really stopped blowing?
Or is it that I’ve placed a brace around my heart for fear that it might buckle under the weight?
I’d finally found a lily amongst the thorns, a refreshing stream cutting through a parched mountain landscape. but what I got was a poisonous berry sweet to the eye but bitter in the back of my throat.
I remember when we first met and started making memories.
I forgot how to play it cool and you forgot how to stop smiling.
but somewhere along the way our love began to die and your 'I love yous' became a lie.
I never noticed the silence that seeped itself somewhere in between your soul and your smile. I’m sorry.
And now my feet lead me down the decrepit road of that night.
Mary, who was he? Did he shower you with love that made you think you could fly? Or did he simply have a smile that for a moment caught your eye?
Did you pause before you took another step?
Did you tell yourself that this didn’t lead to death?
Did my face flash through your thoughts as your bodies intertwined in knots?
Was it everything you thought it’d be? Was he everything that isn’t me?
Did you find what you were looking for?
Have you forgotten our God in your attempts to shackle your wrists with broken chains?
Was this a moment of weakness or has the mask you wear finally been taken off?
Cause my deepest wound is the fear that I never knew you.
Oh LORD hear your servant's cries. My soul is full of trouble. Lean down and wipe my tears for I am drowning in them.
I don’t want this! Did I make the right choice? Help me not carry this the rest of my days.
I’m sorry Lord but I do not posses the faithfulness and strength of your prophet Hosea for I am dust, and an unimportant man.
My only request before you is that you not deal with Mary as her sins deserve or repay her according to her offenses.
For Lord you are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love.
So Mary out of a desire to see you keep breathing I'll keep. silent.
But today I untie your rope from this dock and let you drift away. silent.
I’m left alone standing on the shore. silent.
Not knowing whether or not to wave or just walk away. silent.
Working up the courage to call out 'I still love you' but..."
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