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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Longfellow's Christmas

With thanks to Mustang, who emailed me the following last Christmas:

6 comments:

  1. One of my favorites by the Morman Tabernacle Choir is Little Drummer Boy.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2XGhQUMLmU

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  2. Beautiful and a reminder of good memories.

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  3. A wonderful story, well presented. Re-birth and resurrection, forever.

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  4. Magnificent, AOW!

    That man's heartfelt-but-polished-expertly-professional reading with sublime music perfectly suited to the spirit of the text heard in the background has moved me to tears -- a good thing. It should happen to all of us more often.

    Being able to shed tears is proof we are truly alive.

    Christmas is not about getting presents and eating lots of rich food, it's meant to touch our hearts with renewed empathy, compassion, hope for a better future and a determination to do our best no matter what.

    I know for a fact that those I have loved and learned from continue to live in me, even though most of them long ago passed on to whatever awaits us in the next world.

    Love is eternal. That means those who love are one with the Holy Spirit. We are never alone.

    Anything good that has nourished us, taught us valuable lessons, or touched our hearts will live forever -- as long as we keep our faith intact and work every day to make it grow and increase in strength.

    Thank you for that poignant reminder of the grandeur of Christmas celebrations once held throughout Christendom in a less cynical age.

    ~ FreeThinke

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  5. FT,
    In all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, too often we forget that God's love was made manifest on that day so long ago.

    As for this video, it is a good reminder that America has managed to celebrate the birth of the Savior even during the darkest of days. Certainly, the Civil War period was among America's worst days.

    And we also have in the video valuable insight from Longfellow, who experienced such personal tragedy.

    Last two verses of the poem "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day":

    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 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."


    What a mess the world is in today!

    What a mess my own life is today! The word weary doesn't begin to describe how I feel 100% of the time.

    And yet....

    None of us really have the right to be so pessimistic. God loves us! God is not dead! It just seems that way sometimes.

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