By Doug, CiM
See him
at his first beginning:
tiny, weak, wrinkled,
barely awake,
still streaked
with the blood and matter
of his birth,
not yet able to seek
the food and warmth
of our Mother.
See him at his end:
surrendered, wretched
a man
wrecked at his prime,
bloodied, torn,
tortured, nailed—
yes, nailed, not tied—
hanging on a cross
left to die.
See him
at his second beginning
three days after his end:
alive
full of light,
wounds and all,
showing us the fulfillment
of his promise
that if we but follow him
we too can be
eternally new.
() Christmas Images
![Depiction of nativity with Christmas tree backdrop by Jeff Weese](https://d3bokmeplpq5n0.cloudfront.net/prod/uploads/2018/12/Nativity_tree2011690-150x150.jpg)