{"id":10556,"date":"2020-12-20T00:18:57","date_gmt":"2020-12-19T23:18:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=10556"},"modified":"2020-12-20T00:18:57","modified_gmt":"2020-12-19T23:18:57","slug":"joseph-and-mary-a-poem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2020\/12\/20\/joseph-and-mary-a-poem\/","title":{"rendered":"Joseph and Mary: A Poem"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"10557\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2020\/12\/20\/joseph-and-mary-a-poem\/joseph_and_mary\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/joseph_and_mary.jpg?fit=800%2C517&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"800,517\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"joseph_and_mary\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/joseph_and_mary.jpg?fit=800%2C517&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/joseph_and_mary.jpg?resize=800%2C517&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"517\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/joseph_and_mary.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/joseph_and_mary.jpg?resize=300%2C194&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/joseph_and_mary.jpg?resize=768%2C496&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:24px; font-family:Georgia, serif;line-height:1.5;\">I wrote this poem in 2007, during my third year of training for the ministry. I probably wrote it in transit, on the train to or from my day job as a software developer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:24px; font-family:Georgia, serif;line-height:1.5;\">The poem is a conversation between Mary and Joseph as he grapples with the implications of her decision to say yes to God&#8217;s plan.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:24px; font-family:Georgia, serif;line-height:1.5;\">I do hope, like Mary, you find support from the significant others in your life when you say yes to God&#8217;s plan for you. We cannot do it alone.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3 style=\"margin-bottom:0px;\">Joseph and Mary<\/h3>\n<p><em>by Irene Bom<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Joseph:<\/strong><br \/>\nHow could you agree<br \/>\nWhen there\u2019s so much at stake?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mary:<\/strong><br \/>\nMy-beloved-is-mine potentially,<br \/>\nReckless it may be,<br \/>\nBut the risk is mine to take.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Joseph:<\/strong><br \/>\nAre you insane, Mary?<br \/>\nWhat did the angel say to sway you?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mary:<\/strong><br \/>\nSuch wisdom, it\u2019s agony.<br \/>\nI glimpsed the future briefly.<br \/>\nHe said dreams are coming true.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Joseph:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhat am I to do, tell me?<br \/>\nI had my hopes pinned on a quiet life.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mary:<\/strong><br \/>\nI don\u2019t determine your destiny,<br \/>\nBut the load is heavy.<br \/>\nIt would be easier to carry if I\u2019m your wife.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Joseph:<\/strong><br \/>\nYour mind is clearly<br \/>\nMade up, and I have no say.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mary:<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019m dazzled, I\u2019m dazed, I can see<br \/>\nI\u2019m an embryonic community.<br \/>\nJoin us, embrace the future. Stay.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>From the blog<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/12\/17\/prepare-action\/\">Prepare = action<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/12\/30\/god-loves-stories\/\">God loves stories<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/10\/30\/called-into-community\/\">Theme: Called into community<\/a> &nbsp;[<span style=\"color:red;text-transform:uppercase;\">prayer sheet<\/span>]<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; I wrote this poem in 2007, during my third year of training for the ministry. I probably wrote it in transit, on the train to or from my day job as a software developer. The poem is a conversation between Mary and Joseph as he grapples with the implications of her decision to say &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2020\/12\/20\/joseph-and-mary-a-poem\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Joseph and Mary: A Poem&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[63],"tags":[194,193,149],"class_list":["post-10556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poetry","tag-advent","tag-child","tag-christmas"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;bible&quot;","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_in_snow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_in_snow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_in_snow.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_in_snow.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3435,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/13\/2017-advent-hope-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":10556,"position":1},"title":"2017: Advent Hope #4","author":"Kim Hurst","date":"December 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 MARY'S HOPE Luke 1:26\u201333 \u00a0(NRSVA) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin\u2019s name was Mary.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;bible&quot;","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/blue_flower.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/blue_flower.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/blue_flower.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/blue_flower.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3371,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/12\/2017-advent-hope-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":10556,"position":2},"title":"2017: Advent Hope #3","author":"Kim Hurst","date":"December 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 ELIZABETH'S HOPE Luke 1:24\u201325 \u00a0(NRSVA) 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. 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Oh Lord, I was never a quick scholar but sulked and hunched over my books\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"poetry","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/thistle_fluff.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/thistle_fluff.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/thistle_fluff.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/thistle_fluff.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3518,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/20\/2017-advent-joy-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":10556,"position":5},"title":"2017: Advent Joy #4","author":"Andrew Gardner","date":"December 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) Celebrations and jubilations! This is the 100th post since starting the blog on 7 March 2017. \u00a0 MARY'S MAGNIFICAT JOY Luke 1:46-55 \u00a0(The Voice) 46 Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord! 47 My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator! 48 For though I\u2019m God\u2019s humble servant, God\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;bible&quot;","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/leaves_with_flags.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/leaves_with_flags.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/leaves_with_flags.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/leaves_with_flags.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/poetry\/\" rel=\"category tag\">poetry<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"&nbsp; I wrote this poem in 2007, during my third year of training for the ministry. 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