Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

I’m waiting like a child on Christmas Eve,
waiting for dawn to show me that the snow
is finally here. It’s falling, I believe,
but I’ll need more of morning light to know.

I’m waiting on the dawn to make the snow
reveal itself against the row of pines.
I need a minute more of light to know
it’s snow that’s coming down in blurred white lines

revealed against the row of darker pines.
I’m praying that it hasn’t turned to rain—
it’s snow that’s coming down in blurred white lines.
I’m counting on the snowstorms that remain

and praying that it hasn’t turned to rain.
The snow is here. It’s falling, I believe.
I’m counting down the snowstorms that remain
and waiting like a child on Christmas Eve.

—Robert W. Crawford

Dear Reader,

You have a decision to make: double or nothing.

For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.

In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.

So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?

Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
GIVE NOW