"I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" by Longfellow
I just wanted to share this because I think it's so beautiful... It may be familiar but it is so full of hope, it is worth sharing anyway. It is written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the war, shortly after his second wife died suddenly as a result of injuries after her dress caught on fire.
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!
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!
Comments
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
I always liked the story of Martin Luther's wife, who upon recognizing that her husband was falling victim to despair, dressed all in black. Her husband asked her if she was going to a funeral. She told him no- but since you act as though God is dead, I wanted to join you in the mourning!
Our God is alive! He was alive on Christmas Day, and He is alive today. He is not, as Baal, impotent as to be presumed dead, but He is active in His world.
To the third paragraph: AMEN!