Christmas In Our Hearts

Sometimes a song says it best. These lyrics are from the  group Downhere's song Christmas In Our Hearts from their album How Many Kings. It's quite timely, although it's an older song (and the band, one of my favorites,  is no longer together). It just reminds me that you can't really shut down Christmas! 

Land adorned with snow, trees silver and gold, a fire crackling along

Red and green decor, carolers at the door, and that family feeling is strong

Would it be less Christmassy, if all of it were gone? 

Even if nobody said Merry Christmas, if even the choirs and belfries made no sound, 

There would be peace on the earth, and forgiveness 'cause it's Christmas in our hearts. 

Everywhere you go, the poor and orphans know the Spirit is stirring the soul,                                        

as love and caring dare beyond the standard fare, to get back what the world stole. Is anything more

 Christmassy, more sweetly apropos?

Even if nobody said Merry Christmas, if even the choirs and belfries made no sound, 

There would be peace on the earth, and forgiveness 'cause it's Christmas in our hearts. 

Sacred night so timeless, we through shadows roam; 

Lend Your star to guide us to our heart's true home. 

Even if nobody said Merry Christmas, if even the choirs and belfries made no sound, 

There would be peace on the earth, and forgiveness 'cause it's Christmas in our hearts. 

Oh, if every sleigh bell on earth just disappeared, the 24th of December we'd start ringing a new year

There would be peace on the earth and forgiveness, 'cause it's Christmas in our hearts, 

Christmas in our hearts. In our hearts. 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Peace on Earth

Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards all people! 

The angels concluded their message, proclaiming to an ordinary band of lowly shepherds, certainly no pillars in their community. They were just simple people doing the work necessary to keep their families fed. After seeing the Christ child, as the angels had said, they excitedly spread the word they had been told. "And all those who heard it marveled at those things the shepherds shared." Luke 2:18 

God uses the most unlikely people to bring the message of peace to the world. 

I feel unequipped for the task of bringing peace to the world, failing many times. Often I'm tempted to focus on my  own wants and needs. Often I lack confidence. Sometimes the pain I see in this world is simply too much, and I want to hide. Do you feel the same?  How, then, do we help to usher in peace and goodwill? 

Peace on earth, I must remind myself, is not conditional upon what is or isn't happening 'out there'  but it is based on a Person. Jesus brings peace to our world, in the middle of the mess. He brings it by changing our hearts one bit at a time. And then we must bravely join in the work of making change. One small step at a time, often beginning with the person in front of us.  

I recently had a conversation with two of my coworkers. For some reason, we had a really deep, meaningful conversation about life, and I, praying that God would give me the words to say that would matter, shared something I had learned in my life. "When you said that, I had goosebumps all over! I don't know why! That really hit me!", one of them responded.  I was as surprised as her, but I believe it was the Spirit of God touching her the way only He can. He is the one who changes lives. I keep praying for her, one who has been so beaten down by life.  

The spirit of Christmas gives us a voice to cry "Good will to men, and Peace on earth", making it so much more than just a sweet sentiment and a shallow hope. 

Good will, or Peace on Earth, this is an act of rebellion, a full forced movement against the effects of the fall. It is not blind faith nor is it childish rhetoric. It is holy wisdom and it is as out of place as a host of angels hovering over a band of shepherds.

 (from Peace is Here: Christmas Reflections, by Jars of Clay)

May we all remember whose we are this Christmas, and respond to the little (and big) nudges the Spirit gives us, joining in the movement of bringing the peace of Jesus to our world. 

Photo by Tom Hill on Unsplash

Tea and Peace

Hello, faithful readers and visitors alike! Long ago I decided I wouldn't apologize for my lack of haphazard blogging. Life's too short to care about whether I show up regularly or not. I continue to enjoy having this space and can't seem to cut myself off from it. And I do still enjoy visiting the blogs I come upon or have marked as my favorites. It seems, although blogging may not be as popular or even perhaps a dying trend, I find it to be a way to connect with others who enjoy sharing their thoughts in a quiet way. At least that's how it feels to me. Sort of like sitting across the table with friends, enjoying a cup of steaming hot tea.

Speaking of tea, I found this mug at a thrift store the other day, and I couldn't keep my eyes off of it. I think I was meant to spend $2 on it. I'm always on the lookout for mugs that speak to me.  Due to my health challenges at this time, I am limited in what I can eat or drink, so instead of complaining, I have decided to make what I CAN consume as enjoyable as possible. This mug brings the experience of drinking tea up a notch :)

Today my Lent reading from Pauses for Lent by Trevor Hudson was from Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers.  

How does one live as a peacemaker in the world in which we find ourselves?

 With the COVID-19 in the news constantly, and it being classed as a pandemic, there's a lot of fear and anxiety infiltrating our neighbourhood, city, province, country, and world.

A friend of mine has a partner who is at risk due to his ill health and he is extremely anxious about catching this bug, she tells me. I ask her how she's feeling and she says "Stressed".

I watched a group of people at Costco practically swarm the deli worker as he rolled out freshly packaged hamburger.  He couldn't even place them in the refrigeration area before they were snapped up.

I observed a driver in the parking lot who angrily gestured at another driver for no good reason.

I have a friend who's worried about her young daughter living on the streets and pregnant.

Another friend is scheduled for a very invasive operation as a last ditch effort to help him live longer, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Sometimes it's just a little overwhelming, isn't it?

This world needs peace as never before.
Peace to replace fear.
Peace to replace anxiety.
Peace to replace injustice and violence.
Peace to replace self-preservation.
Peace to replace hate.

I am reminded of the words of Jesus when he was in the boat in the middle of a storm. He spoke to the wind and waves, saying "Peace, be still". No yelling, no frantic efforts. Just speaking words that calmed not only the storm, but his friends.

May I find the right words and actions to help those who come across my path.

May we all be peacemakers in this crazy world.

Stay well, friends.

Our need for peace cries out to heaven as one of 

the deepest yearnings of the human heart.