The start of something gooooood

Being raised in both a musical and Methodist home (and one in which my father firmly believed in singing all verses of songs), hymns are as integral a part of my make-up as my blood type. It is no surpise, then, that I find the most inspiring texts for a Christian soul are the lyrics of old time Christmas hymns and carols.

Unfortunately, I believe that the tunes are so familiar to us they begin to loose their meaning. WHen was the last time you really truly listened to yourself singing a Christmas carol? When was the last time you thought about the meaning of the words, instead of just belting out the long-remembered melody?

In the interest of resurrecting these great works of Christian art in this, one of the great Christian seasons, I will daily (okay, maybe not daily, but frequently) update this blog with the text of one of my favorite carols. Read them and think about them. I hope they make Christmas more meaningful for you.

So, carol 1: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
(text written by poet Edmund Sears in 1849, based on text from Luke 2:8-14) I like to pay special heed to the third and fourth verses.

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the Earth! Goodwill toward men, from Heaven's all-gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats o'er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lonely plains, they bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,
Look now! For glad a golden hours come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old,
When with the ever circling years shall come the time foretold
When peace shall o'er all the earth its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.