Posted by
peripheral on Saturday, December 12, 2009 4:54:15 AM
From My Perspective - - -
One of America's best known poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
(1807-1882), contributed to the wealth of carols sung each Christmas
season, when he composed the words to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas
Day" on December 25th 1864. The carol was originally a poem, "Christmas
Bells," containing seven stanzas. Two stanzas were omitted, which
contained references to the American Civil War, thus giving us the
carol in its present form. The poem gave birth to the carol, "I Heard
the Bells on Christmas Day.” When Longfellow penned the words to his
poem, America was still months away from Lee's surrender to Grant at
Appomattox Court House on April 9th 1865; and, his poem reflected the
prior years of the war's despair, while ending with a confident hope of
triumphant peace. As with any composition that touches the heart of the
hearer, it flowed from the experience of Longfellow involving the
tragic death of his wife Fanny and the crippling injury of his son
Charles from war wounds. Tragedy struck both the nation and the
Longfellow family in 1861. Confederate Gen. Pierre G.T. Beauregard
fired the opening salvos of the American Civil War on April 12th…
Almost a year later, Longfellow received word that his oldest son
Charles, a Lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, had been severely
wounded with a bullet passing under his shoulder blades and taking off
one of the spinal processes. On Christmas Day of 1864, he wrote the
words of the poem, "Christmas Bells." Some of the words of his poem are:
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.”
We’ve come a long way in our nation, culture and society. The demands
of Political Correctness demand that we have Holiday Trees and Cards
rather than using the word Christmas. The expression: “Merry Christmas”
is now set aside for “Happy Holidays”! The deliberate effort to remove
any reference to Christ and His Birth has gained momentum during the
past few years. It should come as no surprise that - On December 09,
2009, the Chicago Tribune reported: “President Barack Obama and first lady
send out holiday cards marked - Season's Greetings.” The Reporter,
Katherine Skiba writes: “President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle
Obama have chosen an elegant greeting card that announces to
recipients: Season's Greetings.” The message in the card is: "May your
family have a joyous holiday season and a new year blessed with hope
and happiness…” The cover, which is cream-colored with a thin maroon
border, depicts a gold wreath encircling a gold presidential coat of
arms. The tradition of presidents sending Christmas cards dates to
Dwight Eisenhower in 1953. The Obama’s selection, though, makes no
mention of "Christmas." Nor does it feature a biblical passage (as
favored by George W. and Laura Bush) or an artistic rendering of a room
in the White House (often the case under Bill and Hillary Clinton).” In
fairness, the Polls indicate this country is predominantly a “Christian
Nation.” If so, where is the voice and outrage of the so-called
Christian people?
It should not surprise one that in order to adequately announce the
Birth of Christ, Luke 2:8-14 states: “And in the same region there were
shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said
to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for
you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a
manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" If you are a
“Christian”, this is to be both your identity and message. Don’t blame
the culture, society or nation. Look in the mirror and ask yourself how
much you really believe the Christmas reality and message. Consider
these things with me!