I was just perusing lists of 'best' and 'worst' Christmas songs, and strangely the same songs seemed to be on both lists, depending who the lister was! Which put me in mind of an article a few weeks ago about Christmas music, which I can't now find otherwise I'd link to it, that was an intriguing reflection by the author on his former disgust of the secular world and their determination to make off with an obviously Christian holiday and the eventual softening of his heart towards the lost, wandering, and lonely. Here's an article that beautifully captures that very longing felt by everyone born of woman. Of course none of the songs on those lists were even remotely Christian and barely dealt with any of the 'religious' trappings of the season, but I find it fascinating that we'd put so much effort into creating a secular hymnal for this particular season. Nobody does that for Easter. Why Christmas? What is it about this babe in the manger two millennia ago that has we moderns trying desperately to cook up something just as wonderful but centered in the materialistic world?
Ugly Christmas sweaters, Mariah Carrie, swanky office parties, Hallmark movie marathons, a pantheon of pop culture gods from the Grinch to Rudolph and Frosty, secular carols by the truckload, the school concerts brimming with tunes about snow and bells, over the top cooking, houses lit up like a runway, gifts galore, but nothing seems to satisfy. Our hyped up secular version of 'peace on earth, goodwill towards men,' feels more like a dinner of cotton candy and Mountain Dew while having to force yourself to smile while putting up with your least favorite great aunt as she talks about her cat for three hours: fake, shallow, all glitz and no glory. There's no room for grief, sorrow, frustration, impatience, depression, financial trouble, loneliness, physical or mental health issues, loss, disappointment, no wonder everybody sort of secretly loathes this season as well as longs for the fulfillment of all its promises.
But that's only the manmade monster that isn't anything near human, wherein you'll get fired if you don't force enough holiday cheer whilst out in public, rather the real story of Christmas is raw, brutal, cold, lonely, despairing, shameful, and dark, wherein finally a long sought light shineth and lo, there is hope upon the earth. That's why I love the old hymns, they don't flirt with Santa or moan over an old fling but rather marvel at the wonder of God indwelling flesh, living amongst us, and bringing true Peace upon the earth. There's room at the manger for death, sorrow, disease, fear, doubt, grief, poverty and every ill that mars creation and He is the cure to them all. Christmas is big enough for your sorrow, for it hails the advent of the One Who has borne them. One of my favorite choruses out of the Messiah is the passage out of Isaiah wherein in, 'surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.' Come real, come broken, no flash or glitter or false joy required, and He shall give you Peace.
The longing is real and so is the Answer, but not liking the answer, the world desires to brew its own cure, which only makes that longing worse, as we feel somehow guilty in not being frivolously jolly this time of year, but you don't have to drink that strange patent medicine or indulge in faux guilt, rather be real, be broken, and seek the wisdom and wonder and glory of ages past and those yet to come. Have an O Holy Night instead of a Holly Jolly Christmas, celebrate a Silent Night rather than rock around the Christmas tree, instead of crooning Blue Christmas remember what happened in that Little Town of Bethlehem. Hark the Herald Angels Sing instead of Mariah Carrie or Nat King Cole. Chestnuts and silver bells and reindeer or the ideal fling aren't going to bring the peace they promise, only the Prince of Peace can do that
There's nothing wrong with all the secular seasonal fun, but it is like cold, hungry kids tired of playing in the snow looking in at the lamplit windows and pretending they are warm and fed and surrounded by love when still outside in the lonely dark and cold. Open the door child, it isn't locked, step into the Light, truly find Home this Christmas and everyday thereafter!
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