Let's Hew You

'Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see?[...]' 

'Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?[...] 

'Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
Do you know what I know? [...]' 

In the above verse extracts from one of my favourite Christmas carols, the questions, ‘Do you see what I see?’, ‘Do you hear what I hear?’ and ‘Do you know what I know?’ open the conversation between three pairs of characters. The questions establish a connection between the pairs. They are questions that invite sharing, partnering and uniting. They are questions that bring together those who would otherwise be apart. They are questions through which the one asking invites the one to whom the questions are being posed to participate in the Event.

There is the possibility that the one asking the questions might be experiencing doubt: ‘Did I really see what I just saw? Did you just see that?’ or ‘Are my ears deceiving me? Did you just hear that?’ However, the third question, ‘Do you know what I know?’ quickly dismisses doubt as an option. Friends, these questions are not those of uncertain minds. On the contrary, they are questions of those who are confident and, in their confidence and excitement, turn to someone else to invite that person to share in the Event.

Now I, mimicking the excitement and exuberance of the characters in the song ask:

Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know? Allow me to share with you: I see restoration. I hear the voice of truth and I know that restoration is coming soon. Assembled in one sentence, I affirm the truth is that restoration is coming soon.

So now, continuing in the flow of the song:

'Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say [...]'

Hmmm…’Listen to what I say’. Now, it’s no longer a matter of questions or gentle invitations. The emotion has intensified and cannot be contained so a public declaration needs to be made. In the preceding verses, it’s a soft and intimate exchange between two parties; now, that scene has expanded to include a wider public to share in this event.

TBH, that’s how I feel. This matter of restoration is no longer a gentle and intimate conversation to be held between two persons close to each other. No, it’s something that I want to shout from the rooftop. It’s something that I know needs to be broadcast far and wide. Restoration is no farce or vain hope, it’s truth. Restoration is coming. I can feel it in my bones! I can feel it all over me! This just makes me want to S-H-O-U-T, shout! This is too good to hold in. Restoration is coming and it is coming soon.

Do I care to describe the restoration? No. Why limit the restoration? In my human limitation, any description of the restoration that I offer will be inadequate. The restoration that awaits is far wider than I can begin to imagine, far greater than any vocabulary can articulate. It includes all the desires of the heart and then some.

Restoration…that’s all I know…and it’s coming soon.

Until next time, love, peace and joy.