In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was with
God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was
made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of
all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
It’s another Christmas, and we’re
celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior. Two of the gospel writers wrote
about it. Two didn’t. It wasn’t until sometime after the first century that it
became important, and too soon after that it became political. Now it’s become
commercialized. Every year, I hear complaints about how commercialized it is,
and having worked in retail for too long, I tend to agree.
With all the changes that are
taking place in my life, I find myself thinking about holidays. Of course, they
can be as big or as small as we need them to be. We can even ignore them
completely. Years ago, I started out each year with a purchase of twenty-four
taper candles, two for each month (if I didn’t have the color already.) I have
several pairs of candle-holders so I could put the candles on the kitchen table
each month.
After my parents started going south
for the winter, I tried another tradition that I love. I found everyday objects
to put under the tree that represent intangible blessings I’ve received. Space
is at a premium, but it’s an idea I’d like to revive. Maybe if I could find
them in miniature.
This year, I’m thinking in terms
of basics. What makes a holiday a holiday? Ultimately, it’s the focus of
attention but what focuses my attention? Light, color, smells, tastes, sounds… It’s
the sounds that have given me joy at Christmas, even when everything else
disgusted me. It brings me back to sanity, reminds me of the Truth, and smaller
truths. With that in mind, here is this year’s Christmas Concert.
I can't say that it's been my
favorite Christmas carol, but I've loved it for years. It expresses my own
sense of Christmas and the world. I chose this performance because it
includes more verses from Henry Longfellow's original poem than most of those we
hear.
There
doesn't seem to be anything that says "Christmas" about this
orchestral piece except for its title. It's beautiful, but I had to listen to it
several times to realize that Michael W. Smith was putting the circus that is
the world's view of Christmas in juxtaposition with the majesty that is the
real Biblical Christmas.
Hallelujah (Lindsey Sterling
instrumental)
What makes this version a Christmas song is what Lindsey Sterling does with it.
So many people miss Christ in Christmas. It is tempting to think that we have
to fight to "keep Christ in Christmas." Christ may be hidden in
Christmas, but He emerges in the strangest places (like vocal competitions and
New York City subways) in the strangest ways. No matter how dark it may seem
around us, God is not dead, nor doth He sleep... so keep your eyes open because
it's clear that Jesus still shows up in places that clearly have no room for
Him. Merry Christmas, and may He bless you with His presence in the coming year.
In 1914, soldiers on the front lines observed a Christmas truce. Christmas Truce (History.com)
In 1914, soldiers on the front lines observed a Christmas truce. Christmas Truce (History.com)
In 2014, for the 100th anniversary of that truce,
Sainsbury produced this dramatized version as an ad. Sainsbury's
Christmas Truce ad
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