Meditation for Preparation – Dec. 15th

Your Assignment: Will You Accept?

On Christmas Day in 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, beloved American poet, was mourning. A year and a half earlier, he had lost his wife in a horrible accident involving fire (he suffered massive burns himself trying to save her and could not even attend her funeral).  His country was torn in two, embattled in the brutal Civil War.  His son, despite his father’s wishes, had entered the war and recently been wounded.  Longfellow wrote very little in his sadness.  “I can make no record of the days,” he said.  “Better leave them wrapped in silence.  Perhaps some day God will give me peace.”

But that Christmas Day, God reached out to Mr. Longfellow, let mercy flow, and gave the poet some words.

Christmas Bells

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Nothing really had changed for Mr. Longfellow.  Everything still hurt.  But in the chiming of bells, God had gently reminded the poet of truth.  Peace is possible.  Peace is coming.  Peace is even here right now.

The poem resonated around the country.  Mr. Longfellow was not the only mourner in the war-tossed land;  I can’t imagine how many people he encouraged with his words.  By 1872, the poem had been put to music by John Baptiste Calkin and turned into a Christmas carol.  We still sing it today (Casting Crowns has a pretty good version).

Not to ruin the Christmas cheer here, but let me remind you for just a moment that there are still a lot of mourners in the land.  Every day in your life, you bump up against people who have lost a job, lost a loved one, lost themselves somehow.  We’re divided.  We’re lonely.  We’re struggling.

How will we respond?  I challenge you to be like Mr. Longfellow: go ring some bells.  First, if you’re like me and have your own problems with being celebratory this season, speak truth to yourself. Can you remember that with our Savior, there is now reconciliation between God and man? Peace! Can you remember that with the Spirit linking believers, there is now reconciliation possible between men of different political stripes? Peace! Can you remember that under our Sovereign God, all that is wrong with the world will one day be resolved and peace will reign?

Maybe Christmas is your favorite season, and you can’t imagine being gloomy at this time of year. Stockings, lights, sleigh bells, hot chocolate—bring it on! The Savior has come! Even before Thanksgiving is over, you’ve put the nativity on the mantle and presents under the tree. I thank God for the people like you who have been blessed with abundant joy to spill about. We need you to toss the gingerbread cookies liberally! We need you to quote Elf and Charlie Brown frequently. We need you to help us rejoice. Don’t keep it to yourself. Don’t keep it within the family. Don’t keep it within the church! Spread that Christmas truth around!

Who do you know that needs some peace? Is there a neighbor who needs a little coffee cake? A co-worker who needs an invitation to the Christmas service? Do you need to call an estranged family member? Jesus has come! Peace is available! Can you find the lost, the lonely, the hurting this season and tell them a little precious truth? Here’s something you could say:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

Peace.  It’s here now.  Let’s give it out.