O Holy Night

"o holy night, the stars are brightly shining
it is the night of our dear Savior's birth
long lay the world in sin and error pining
'til He appeared, and the soul felt it's worth
a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
fall on your knees, oh hear the angels' voices
oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born

"surely He taught us to love one another
His law is love, and His gospel is peace
chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
and in His name all oppression shall cease
sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord, that ever, ever praise we
noel, noel, oh night, oh night divine"


"O Holy Night" is one of my favorite Christmas songs...not just because Mariah can belt it out (alongside "All I Want for Christmas is You"), or because of the grand moment when the Rich's (now Macy's?) Great Tree at Lenox is lit at the high note. It's one of my favorites because of the beautiful reminder of why Christmas is significant to me, to all Christians. It's easy to gloss over the familiar words, but when you really dwell on them, the truth and beauty can bring tears to your eyes...

Imagine the world...everyone in it, just going about their normal days and lives. Things seem fine, but in reality, things are dark. In reality, all of humanity is pining (thesaurus: declining, weakening, wasting away, wilting, withering, fading, sickening, drooping), just pining in the darkness of their sin.

And then, in a quiet, humble way, the Savior of the world is born. One moment, wilting in darkness. Next moment, a thrill of hope. That which was dying has now suddenly been given a chance for life. That which was hopeless is now hopeful. The weary can now rest and rejoice. A new morning, a new day is here.

And nothing will ever be the same. The old law is gone. The new law is love. The old gospel is no more. The new gospel is peace. The oppressed and enslaved are now free. Free to live, to love, to rejoice, to praise. To praise! And let all within us praise His name.

For on the morning Christ was born, everything changed. Yesterday we were lost. But today, our Redeemer has been born and we are given the opportunity to be found. The God who seemed silent for so long has come to us to remind us that, although He is sometimes silent, He is never still...The God who, since the fall in the Garden, has seemed distant, is now in our midst, our Emmanuel, our God With Us.

What a Merry Christmas indeed.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

OK let's be honest...it's been looking a lot like Christmas for several weeks now. I have just been a lazy writer! :)

In case you've never been before, please allow me to say that New York at Christmastime is magical. Simply magical. I have been here only for visits in years past, but this year - ahhhh! (think angels singing a high-pitched "ahhhh!") - I am in the midst of a glorious full month of New York City Chrismtas. Ahhhh!

Everywhere I go, the sights and the lights of Christmas make me feel like I have just stepped out of a movie...a really happy Christmas movie, at that. I stopped by Macy's last week to buy Christmas cards and was almost overwhelmed by the sight when I stepped out of the subway. Each and every window on Herald Square offers a small glimpse into a child-like fantasy, full of animations and storybooks and wonder. But the Christmas cheer doesn't stop outside...right inside the doors, there hangs strand after strand of garland and lights, draped from the high ceilings with beautiful red bows. Oh! And let's not forget the hundreds of poinsettias that garnish the entry way. It is indeed like a miracle on 34th St...

The Christmas cheer continues at Rockefeller Center, I suppose the epicenter of New York Christmas festivities. Between the huge, colorfully-lit tree, the ice-skaters below, and the hoards and hoards of tourists, Christmas comes alive with joy. Right around the corner, the beautiful windows and light show at Saks draw another fantastic crowd, lining up to view a New York City tradition.

But I think my favorite things about New York at Christmas are the little, less celebrated ones...the old-timey snowflakes that hang off the lightposts in the Village...the beautiful Christmas tree in my office building's lobby...the Salvation Army Santas on every corner, and the fabulous red decorations, peppermint mochas, and little bears dressed in red puffy coats and Uggs at Starbucks. Everywhere you go, a City usually filled with so many lonely, angry, bitter people is suddenly alive with joy and harmony, peace and cheer.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year in the most wonderful city in the world.
:)