 By Rebecca Vickery I love Christmas music that points us to the beauty and majesty of the story of Jesus Christ being born in our midst. There is a blending of sorrow and joy in many of my favorites. When I think of the Christmas story, it is the same. The son of God is ushered into the world with intrigue and glory. Angels deliver messages. Choirs of angels sing. Shepherds go find the baby in the manger and respond with rejoicing. And yet, following the story of the good comes the inevitable workings of evil in the world. A jealous King sends out an order to slaughter all the Jewish born boys under the age of two. “Did e’er such love and sorrow meet?” When the noise quiets and the festive rushing about subsides, I am faced with the sorrows of this past season. We have said goodbye to some truly special people. Our little church community is in the midst of that sorrow. And yet, I cannot help but rejoice at the time we got to spend together. Never before have I gotten to know such a wonderful family, and become friends with a Pastor in a way that felt like true friendship. I have received the gift of knowing and being known by people I would never have known in this way had I been mired in my previous position any longer. The firing or “being let go” of yesteryear turned into the blessing of the next six. My tree is filled with reminders of Christmases past. Ornaments from my Grandmother who passed away in 2007, tinsel from my Grandfather who passed in 1994, ornaments made by my daughter who lives too far to make it for Christmas, the bitter and the sweet so intermingled in a sparkly lit up Christmas tree. This season has been so tightly interwoven with hardships and beauty. Laughter and tears. Both sides of the coin are necessary weights in the journey of our existence. I think back to some of my favorite phrases in the Bible. From the story of Joseph in Genesis, at the end of things, when Joseph is speaking with his brothers, he tells them, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.” And Job, in response to his wife’s suggestions for him to respond to his hardship with cursing says, “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” And finally from Jesus himself, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Sorrow and hardship are not surprising in a world colored over by sin and strife. And yet, Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God with his coming, and with it, His peace. While my heart can break, I can also have peace that passes understanding. While I can be filled with sorrow, I can still rejoice. It is a mighty strange dance, this life we are given. But in a world that has met a Savior in the humblest of places, the manger in Bethlehem, hope does not disappoint. I will worship in the dark places to sing truth to my soul. Sorrowful yet rejoicing, I can attest with the words of Rend Collective’s new “A Christmas Hymn,” O the mystery, O the wonder, somehow God is one of us. I cannot help but marvel at the thought of the King of kings and the Lord of Lords joining us in the suffering and hardships of this life to know us, to join us, to walk amongst us. We do not serve a distant Savior, but one who with His departure gifted us with the Holy Spirit so that we would never be alone. The Savior left the throne of heaven so that heaven can break forth like the springtime through the winter of our souls. In this way, I can reconcile the hardships of life and lift my hands to praise my King and rejoice in my savior. Merry Christmas to you all. And God bless us every one. "A Christmas Hymn (To The Tune Of "Come Thou Fount")" Come now see the Lord of Heaven in a lowly manger laid King deserving of a throne room, born a poor, powerless babe Oh the mystery oh the wonder Somehow God is one of us Such is greatness in His kingdom He descended to our dust Christ the Word, holy expression of the humbleness of God Herald of a prideless kingdom, one of sacrificial love Mighty One who made the heavens Knelt to wash his brother's feet And the earth that He created He bestowed unto the meek King of glory became nothing Humbled to the point of death Stretched His arms out like a beggar And forgave with His last breath What God started with a manger ended with an empty grave Suffering servant now exalted, Jesus name above all names Light eternal in the darkness He shall not be overcome Shining over all our shadows Every curse has been undone Heaven breaks forth like the springtime Through the winter of our souls Now His life is life abundant is forever ours to know Come now church let us adore him Tune your heart to sing His grace Streams of mercy never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it Mount of God's redeeming love Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it Mount of God's redeeming love Comments are closed.
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