Thought for the Week

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

December 23, 2002

It was 1863. The United States were in a deadly civil war seeking to be ununited. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a hymn about Christmas and bells.

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And more than this he went on, it was not only bells in his hearing that were ringing, but also everywhere in Christendom.

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And then, in an attitude reminiscent of our condition today with a million Christians in Iraq, of American Baptists reaching out in partnership with others to the despairing and destitute in North Korea, and Israelis and Palestinians in a war of attrition,

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."

But then the thrilling realization;

Then pealed the bells 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."

As we seek to solve our current dilemma, we know God is not dead, nor asleep. But the challenge for our nation is to be right and use the right means to prevail. As that other famous song of a more recent era goes, "when will we ever learn, when will we ever learn?" Rabbi Arik Ascherman has learned. He has helped prevent the destruction and has also led in the rebuilding of Palestinian homes. His thesis: "We either have to live together or die together, and I for one would rather see us live."

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

This is my Christmas prayer for you and our world.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

201 Oak St.

Mauston, WI 53948-1333 608-8474555

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