I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

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.

I 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 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.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned this hymn in 1867.  It's another slow, somber one.  And, again, I love it.  It tells a story of someone contemplating the deep chasm between the hope of Christmas and the despair of life. 

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a friend about faith.  My conclusion was one that I've shared numerous times, faith is believing that God is good despite all evidence to the contrary.  It is knowing the heart and character of God in such a way that you trust Him to be and do good in all things at all times.  It's trusting that His definition of good, while often different from mine, is best.  

I am thankful that Longfellow did not leave the hymn alone after the third verse, but added a fourth and fifth.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

God is not dead; He does not sleep!

The wrong shall fail; the right prevail!

With peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Till, ringing, singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!

The wonder of Christmas is that there is hope.  The despair is real.  The harsh realities of life are enough to knock anyone sideways.  But despair does not have the final word.  Our good and gracious, loving and merciful God made a way.

Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. Luke 1:78-79