Saturday, December 25, 2004

Christmas Carol Pondering ... I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Kate and I were talking the other day about the smaller number of y'all who check blogs over the weekends. I'm assuming that goes double for the holidays ... but this blog is more for myself to have a forum to babble than it is for others to read those babblings. :-)

One of my favorite Christmas Carols has always been "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". But it's not because of the melody (like "What Child is This?" ... see below). And it's not because there's anything special about the first verse. It's because of the message of the entire song if you read through all five verses:

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.

I 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.

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.'

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.

It's the fourth verse that almost always causes a catch in my breath. God is NOT dead and He NEVER sleeps. We may not always understand His reasons for allowing the things that He allows or for doing the things that He does. But, ultimately, and in His timing, the wrong shall fail and the right will prevail. Just like in His perfect timing and in His wonderful good will, He brought forth a baby on this earth who would bring ultimate peace to our souls. As you go out and about your Christmas Day activities, pause for a moment when you hear the Christmas bells to remember the peace that has come to rest in your soul.

• posted by Lou Ann Aepelbacher @ 8:12 AM •
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