GO INTO THE NIGHT SINGING

Oh Holy Night is one of my favourite carols. The soaring musical finale is full of triumph.

            Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angel voices!

            Oh night divine, the night when Christ was born.

But for many people, Christmas is anything but holy. It is a painful memory or an all-too-present horror, as broken and dysfunctional families tear themselves apart. Such Christmas experiences are as different as night from day from the triumphant carol.

            As I meditated on this I found myself writing a hymn to the hope that even the darkest of nights and the most painful memories may be redeemed by the Light of The World, Jesus Christ.

            Go into the night singing!

            For pow’rless hell no longer preens

            The shadowy spectres of ghosts once seen

            In those darkened minds of sorrow-bringing.

            Go into the night singing!

            Out of the mind and into the bliss

            Of brightest rivers of light which kiss

            The dawn of grace redeeming.

            Go into the night singing!

            With heavenly legions of glorious sound

            Bright clad with holy light all ‘round

            ‘Tis all divine and gleaming,

            Both night and day now holy, past and present blessed,

            Go singing out from night as Light’s most honoured guest.

           

May your Christmas be triumphant with peace and light.