Today is the winter solstice, possibly my favorite day of the year because the sun quits declining and crosses an axis that makes sunlight last longer so our days lengthen again. I most love that increase when I’m in far northern climates near the June 21st summer solstice and the light is so magical, it hardly gets dark at all. I’ve flown to Iceland twice near then when the sky was all pink and lavender but never turned to night.
It’s Christmas in four days and there’s a holy hush while almost everyone pauses to think about the meaning of this time. I enjoy this carol Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote during perilous times. His wife had burned to death in a house fire. One son was gravely wounded in a Civil War battle, his recovery uncertain. Longfellow’s heart felt little celebration but as he heard the church bells ringing, he wrote four comforting stanzas. This is the first.
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.
This simple declaration echoes part of the angels’ song in Luke 2:14, “…peace on earth goodwill to men”.
That’s still the message true angels bring. Perhaps those bringing a different message are not angels—or not good ones.
Those words convey the message I want to live as this year ends and crosses to another.
Good news deserves many voices. I hope you’ll join me in declaring, “…peace on earth goodwill to men.”
Merry Christmas to you and yours and may you be very blessed throughout the coming year and beyond.
(Art credit Rose Ann Sharpe, Bethlehem Community)
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