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“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom
his favor rests.” – Luke 2:14
Read the headlines of any newspaper today and tell me if
there is peace on earth. We have often
heard the carol that states “Let there be
peace on earth” or “Peace on earth,
good will to men”; but yet we see the chaos, calamity, darkness, depravity
and pain that rules the earth today. We
are reminded daily of the problems that are facing the world and infrequently
exposed to the blessings that are likewise happening. Here are the headlines from CNN just this
morning:
Latest news
- · Snowden open letter offers Brazil help to investigate NSA surveillance
- · Northern Ireland leaders condemn Belfast bomb blast
- · Dozens killed after 'barrel bombs' fall on Syria's largest city
- · Putin, Yanukovych to meet, as Ukraine protesters urge closer EU ties
- · Massive jailbreak in Ecuador, 55 escape
- · Amnesty: China's abolition of labor camps a 'cosmetic change'
- · North Korea's top brass commemorates Kim Jong Il's death
- · 52 killed as militants attack hospital at Yemen's defense ministry
- · Footage shows Yemen gunman open fire
What was the process of communicating news before CNN,
FoxNews, BBC or the Internet? Before
there was television, radio or even newspapers how did people discover what was
going on around their town, yet alone around the world? Think about it for a moment. The communications medium has evolved dramatically
in the last 120 years to the point where we know within minutes of something
happening on the other side of the world.
In the Civil War days they used the church bells to communicate good news and blessings that had occurred in any community. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lived in the 1800’s during the Civil War era and knew of pain and hardship. A scholarly man, he had lost his first wife shortly after they were married. His 2nd wife, and mother of his 5 children, was burnt to death in an accident while lighting a match her clothes caught fire. Henry loved his country but hated the Civil War, yet his 19 year old son went off to fight for the Union Army anyway. He was seriously injured in the battle of New Hope Church, Virginia and spent much time being nursed back to health under his father’s care. With all of this tragedy in his own life, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sat down one night in total desperation and penned one of the most recognized poems to ever be printed. In the process of writing the poem one can see his transition from hatred, anger and depression to peace, acceptance and contentment. His poem was put to music and has become a cherished favorite of many around the globe as they seek out peace during the Christmas season. His poem titled, “Christmas Bells.” tells the story of one man desperate to hear the church bells chime with “good news” and blessings to overcome the feelings of loss and pain in his own life. He needed to know that the world was still at peace even though he was not.
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.'
In the Civil War days they used the church bells to communicate good news and blessings that had occurred in any community. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lived in the 1800’s during the Civil War era and knew of pain and hardship. A scholarly man, he had lost his first wife shortly after they were married. His 2nd wife, and mother of his 5 children, was burnt to death in an accident while lighting a match her clothes caught fire. Henry loved his country but hated the Civil War, yet his 19 year old son went off to fight for the Union Army anyway. He was seriously injured in the battle of New Hope Church, Virginia and spent much time being nursed back to health under his father’s care. With all of this tragedy in his own life, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sat down one night in total desperation and penned one of the most recognized poems to ever be printed. In the process of writing the poem one can see his transition from hatred, anger and depression to peace, acceptance and contentment. His poem was put to music and has become a cherished favorite of many around the globe as they seek out peace during the Christmas season. His poem titled, “Christmas Bells.” tells the story of one man desperate to hear the church bells chime with “good news” and blessings to overcome the feelings of loss and pain in his own life. He needed to know that the world was still at peace even though he was not.
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 beIls
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'.
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With Peace on earth, good will to men'.
What Henry Wadsworth Longfellow realized that Christmas day
in 1862 was the same thing the shepherds realized upon coming to the manger
scene that first Christmas morning.
After 400 years of silence God had decided it was time to reveal His
plan of salvation through the birth of His Son. The message from the angels to
the shepherds was God reconnecting with mankind through this baby. This message of peace and good will for
mankind became the first sermon preached by these shepherds to all they met
after seeing the baby Jesus born the blessed night. It is the same message we need to hold true
too today, despite the despair, chaos, depravity and depression. There is a God in heaven and He is in
control, and will one day judge the righteous from the unrighteous. Satan’s power will fail in the end and that
must remain our hope when we are seeking peace on earth.
The musical group Casting Crowns has a version of this carol that came out in 2009. I highly recommend you listen and as you do think of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow putting pen to paper at Christmas 1862. This could become one of your favorite Christmas Carols as well.
Prayer:
Loving Father,
You broke Your silence in the declaration of angels to shepherds on a hill side. Your message to mankind was Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men; and this holds so true even in today’s desperate times. Lord, we seek Your love, compassion, and purpose in our lives. Be real in our lives today, fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we might be overflowing with passion to evangelize Your message to everyone we meet. Use us Lord to be Your voice this Christmas, on the streets, in the malls and restaurants, and at our work. Put the right words on our lips at the right time to be a blessing for all that we meet. In Your name we pray – Amen.
The musical group Casting Crowns has a version of this carol that came out in 2009. I highly recommend you listen and as you do think of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow putting pen to paper at Christmas 1862. This could become one of your favorite Christmas Carols as well.
Prayer:
Loving Father,
You broke Your silence in the declaration of angels to shepherds on a hill side. Your message to mankind was Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men; and this holds so true even in today’s desperate times. Lord, we seek Your love, compassion, and purpose in our lives. Be real in our lives today, fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we might be overflowing with passion to evangelize Your message to everyone we meet. Use us Lord to be Your voice this Christmas, on the streets, in the malls and restaurants, and at our work. Put the right words on our lips at the right time to be a blessing for all that we meet. In Your name we pray – Amen.
© Sondove
Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
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For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts
