Be born in us today - David Haas

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 20 October 2006, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1. DURING WINTER TIME-PERIOD COLD*,
OUR FAITH BECOME WEAK CAN, BECOME OLD.
SO WE REALLY-WANT FIND SONG TELL-STORY
ABOUT GOD WE CONNECT-TO CAN.
WE USED-TO WANT POWER, SHOW-OFF MIGHT.
INSTEAD WE FIND A BABY OFFER LIGHT.
WE NEED CHILD SHOW-us US RIGHT WAY.
GO-AHEAD BORN INSIDE-SELF US TODAY.

2. EVERY-YEAR CHRISTMAS SHOW-UP GO-IN-CYCLES.
SAD WE STILL SEE PAIN, VIOLENCE INCREASE.
WE CRY, WE HURT. WANT KNOW END WHEN?
HAVE SAVIOR, MESSIAH YOU-rt CAN SEND?
WE PRAY, HOPE. PLEASE ATTEND-TO OUR CALL.
MEAN CHRISTMAS STORY LIE, NOT TRUTH?
WE NEED CHILD SHOW-us US RIGHT WAY.
GO-AHEAD BORN INSIDE-SELF US TODAY.

3. DURING (2h)THIS HAPPY FRIENDLY TIME-PERIOD,
MAYBE WE RESENT, STUCK FEEL FEAR.
YOU-rt CALL US BELIEVE, BUT WE SEEM BLIND.
EXPLAIN HOW WE FIND SALVATION CAN.
SELFISH, HATE IDEA-LIKE POISON FOR OUR HEART.
HOW-MUCH LONGER WE WAIT MUST?
THIS-lf CHILD OFFER LIFE, PREVENT DECAY.
GO-AHEAD BORN INSIDE-SELF US TODAY.

4. SHOW-us US, PROVE YOURSELF-rt REAL.
MIND, BODY FROZE, HELP-us US FEEL SOMETHING.
HAVE ONLY-ONE GIFT WE NEED. BECOME OUR MANGER,
WE DEPEND YOU-rt FEED US.
WE NEED KNOW WE NOT ALONE.
WE NEED HEAVEN BECOME OUR HOME PROTECT.
CROSS IMPORTANT, YES, BUT
||: GO-AHEAD BORN INSIDE-SELF US TODAY. :||


Notes: TIME-PERIOD - [T], PO > NDS, FO up, travels in a vertical plane parallel to the NDH and makes contact with NDH [B], PO > DS, FO away. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Period - Time.

FAITH - Like THINK TRUST but with elevated hands to show the trust is spiritual.

REALLY-WANT - WANT but shaken back and forth to show intensity.

USED-TO - (2h)[5] cross at wrists. Hands descend while hands close to (2h)[S].

MIGHT - (2h)[S], POs > back of signer, FOs up, are held at NDS and fists descend, then repeat at DS.

GO-AHEAD - (2h)[B^ dot], POs ><, FOs away, move forward in a jerk.

INSIDE-SELF - The FT of [C] are held against the chest and stuff the FT of [O^] into the [C] twice.

CHRISTMAS - [C], PO away, FO up, moves in upward arc like the top of a Christmas wreath.

GO-IN-CYCLES - (2h)[1], POs towards, FOs ><, FTs touch, DH moves away then towards in a vertical circle, until FTs touch again. This is repeated.

VIOLENCE - DESTROY.

SAVIOR - S-FREE AGENT.

MESSIAH - M-KING.

YOU - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

ATTEND-TO - PAY-ATTENTION.

CALL- DH [B] taps NDH [B], PO down, FO > signer, then moves > signer while closing to an [A], PO away from signer, FO up, and moving up.

(2h)THIS - (2h)[1^], POs down, FOs away, hands descend slightly.

RESENT - [5] touches thumb to center of chest, then moves up while supinating.

FEAR - (2h)[5], POs away, FOs up, hands are held far from body and move back to body in a wavy pattern.

SALVATION - S-FREE.

IDEA-LIKE - A blending where IDEA has a [Y] instead of an [I] in anticipation of LIKE which is signed smoothly right afterwards.

POISON - (2h)[V:], PO > signer, cross hands at wrists and DH taps NDH.

DECAY - (2h)[A], POs ><, FOs away, decend in a wavey pattern.

MANGER - (2h)[5], FOs down interlace fingers and then separate while ascending in outward arcs.

CROSS - [C], PO away, FO up, traces cross by moving down, then across.

Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

Lyrics:

1. Through the winter and the cold,
our faith can weaken and grow old;
so we ache to find a song of a God,
one to whom we can belong.
Instead of power shown as might,
a tiny baby is your light;
we find a child who sings the way.
Come now, be born in us today.

2. Christmas comes and Christmas goes,
yet pain and violence sadly grow.
We cry and hurt. When will it end?
Is there a savior, a messiah whom you'll send?
We pray in hope, please hear our cry,
or is the story just a lie?
We need the child to show the way.
Come now, be born in us today.

3. In this time of joy and cheer,
we find resentment, bound by fear;
called to believe, but we are blind,
give us a reason, a lifeline we can find.
Poisoned by selfishness and hate,
how much longer must we wait?
This child brings life to our decay.
Come now be born in us today.

4. Give us a sign that you are real.
Numb though we are, help us to feel.
There's only one gift that we need,
a manger, too, where all can come and feed.
We need to know we're not alone,
a place of safety, a home.
Although the cross is here to stay,
come now, be born in us today.
Come now be born in us today.

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