advent day nineteen

And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake

Revelation 8:2-5

Holy, holy, holy

Incense...beautiful, fragrant, pervasive and elusive. A small amount burned in the corner of a room (or a stable?) can change the whole atmosphere.

It tells of stillness, of softness, of time for meditation.

It curls and winds, unwilling to be contained but seeking out all the hidden corners until the space is permeated with it.

It hints of another dimension to life, of a world beyond what we can see, hear or touch.

It prepares a place for God.

Incense– a metaphor for prayer.

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray'r and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high

Holy