i wait

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Psalm 130 (NIV®)

How long? How long?

The cry echoes through the centuries.

Looking up at the countless stars,

waiting for the promised child,

a father waits for the birth of a nation.

He listens, misunderstands, makes mistakes, starts over again.

Impatience maps a trail

of wrong turns and redemptions

Deception repeatedly dividing brothers

as jealousy and fear sells family into slavery

Summoned to sit with kings

and growing as memories fade

Until the nation wins its freedom from oppression

only to wander the endless desert

and enter a promised land

where so rarely there is peace.

Looking up at a distant star,

waiting for the promised child,

whose death and resurrection whisper rebirth.

We listen, misunderstand, make mistakes, can start over again.

Tracy Ingham

Film, music & Photos by Simeon Smith