And the child was come, the child that was God, the God that became
child, and time itself stood still in its passing to mark the wonder of
that coming!
The clouds ceased their onward sailing and crowded in piles of white and
blue and gray softness, to marvel at the child's first smile. The
heavens rained down blossoms of white and red and golden and blue
lotuses.
The mountains gave forth a great cry of joy, as they in gladness met.
The rivers heaved their billowy crests and chanted hymns of praise to
Him, who was to make holy again their waters.
The earth throbbed and thrilled as the streams of holy Love shot through
all her body, swelling her breast with new life and feeding all that was
living and moving within the recesses of her bowels, and clothing with
great beauty that which lived upon her bosom.
The roots of growing things grasped with a firmer hold her sides, and
her loved creatures, those that walked and those that crept upon her
surface, nestled once more, as of yore, when all the world was holy,
against her freshened and strengthened body with new affection and
faithfulness, and her great heart uttered a mighty thanksgiving to Him
who had heard her appeal and succored her.
The seeds that were in her mouth burst into rooting, the roots into
sprouting, and the budding trees, that graced her brow, into glad
blossoms.
And the trees that were in blossom bore ripe fruit in the hour of His
coming.
And all those that hungered were fed.
The cows, big with young, dropped their calves, and their bags were full
unto bursting for all that came to take sustenance therefrom.
The motherless cubs of wild things fearlessly suckled from her udder,
and the cow lapped the soft, furred sides of the young stranger with her
long, rough tongue.
And all the wild things that hungered were fed in that hour.
The eagle left its nest on the mountain's rugged side, and sat on the
tree with quivering wing beside the dove, that cooed its inward shout of
love.
The snake forgot to charm the timid songster that thrilled its joy close
by, but, lifting up its hooded head, it madly danced between the
sunshine and the shadow that the exultant branches of swaying trees did
cast.
The huge elephant sportive became, and played with the deer and doe that
rubbed against its haunches.
The fierce lion, the leopard, and all the untamed creatures of the
forests, with yearning call of love, turned their faces towards the
place, all light, where Love, as a little child was cradled in the arms
of man.
And in the hour of His coming many rainbows of wondrous color and beauty
did span the skies. And the sun liquid as molten love became.
And in that hour man and beast, and bird and flower, and all that lives
upon the earth and underneath its surface and in the deep waters, did
look into the abode of Love.
And on the face of earth the smile of Love did rest, and sin vanished
from the heart of man, even as hunger disappeareth where plentiful food
is dished to the hungered.
The eye of the murderer looked for darkened places wherein to bide
himself, but, finding naught but light, did throw his blade into the
purified waters of the holy river and knelt at the feet of the holy
ones, who in ecstasy were wrapt.
The gray and shrunken face of avarice lifted itself toward the skies,
and lo! glorified the countenance became!
The face of bloated folly, the weakness of vanity, the vileness of
ingratitude, the stubbornness of unbelief in that hour were unknown to
man.
A joy, unfelt before, on all the earth did reign, a joy that even yet
doth thrill through hearts of life, for the child that was God, and the
God that was child, had come on earth to live with man.