I heard the bells on Christmas DayTheir old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
I have this song echoing in my head. I thought it a little strange that Christmas was hollering for attention just as Lent was opening his wide, grey doors. “Hush, now! I’m trying to concentrate on concentrating. I’m trying to be Lenten intentional here.”
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!
Our home has not been very peaceable this month with the stresses of illness and an unexpected hospital stay. Yet our hearts have known peace. Peace came with every prayer you uttered on our behalf. Thank you. Oh, thank you for those gifts.
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!
The world around us isn’t very peaceable. My heart groans more than it articulates words in prayer for the countries that are hurting so desperately right now. It’s difficult to talk with a 4yr old about these things. All he hears right now is……”Oh Lord, bring Your peace to Venezuela. Let your peace be known in the Ukraine. In Russia. In the Koreas. In Sudan. And South Sudan. In China. In Egypt…….”
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."
I long to be an instrument of God’s peace. But I’m not always ready. I want this season of Lent to be a season of being ready. May the Lord cut through my fundamental understanding of what peace looks like and how it needs to be brought to the hearts of those around me. May my son recognize the effects of God’s peace and become a herald of it.
“How can you prepare your heart today for Jesus tomorrow?”
-Good Dirt (Epiphany)
-Tamara