O Holy Night – a carol that can be belted out by the best of voices or the worst, but no matter, it’s words always move my heart in such a way that my tear ducts become challenged to not spill over onto my cheeks.
“The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel voices O night divine, O night when Christ was born O night divine, O night, O night divine”
If ever there was ever a time in history when our world was weary, when our world was so desperately in need of the hope that the miracle of Christmas bestows, it is now! While party lines divide dinner tables and social media invades what little real interactions we have with loved ones… In an age where country is divided and families are too, when human slavery is the largest grossing business in the world and all the wealth that so many possess still hasn’t put an end to starving children and impoverished countries… Now, more than ever, our world is in need of this “thrill of hope”. Our weary world is just that – weary. Weary from seeking out the thing they’re so afraid to surrender too – our savior, born in a stable on this Holy night.
So, in the midst of all the crazy… in the hustle, the bustle, the parties, plays and beautifully decorated church platforms, it’s my prayer that this Christmas season, we sisters would not just celebrate this hope for our weary world, but we would BE the hope in OUR weary world. If that’s an encouraging text to a friend who’s going through a tough time, if that’s a real smile and “Merry Christmas” to the tired and frustrated cashier, if that’s a meal to a family or a toy donated to a charity. Whatever way, whatever platform, in this weary time, let us rejoice in the hope that Holy night brought to us. Let us share it with the world that so desperately needs to see it lived out before them.
Today, there is no stable to visit and no star in the sky that the world can see to point to the direction of the Savior. Instead, there are hearts like yours and mine – God appointed for “such a time as this” to fall on our knees and give this world the hope that a savior is here! What a thrill of hope that is!
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