Once again the seasonal programming that my favorite public broadcasting radio stations promote smacked me out of a forthcoming funk. Each year its every-where -ness startles me!
Whoever decided what to play when, their selections are again venues of seasonal grace — surprising and satisfying.
Christmas is the protest of the human race against gloom. ~Frank Crane, “Christmas Means the Indestructibility of Joy,” Christmas and the Year Round, 1917
Coming through another year of radically simplified celebrations, what a gift this holiday radio programming has been.
What’s more, the seasonal music still being played days after Christmas — chosen by others —dances in the background of my thoughts as I try to use words to put my unsettled feelings in order.
What Those Unsettled Feelings Are
They are like uninvited drop-ins, wrapped up in one word, uncertainty — Maybe some have dropped by your heart this season, dear reader as 2022 looms. All the Christmas music though reminds me we are in good company; I bet Mary would understand, Joseph too.
Swirls of carols and other ancient compositions written over centuries, now filling the airways, lifting up my heart, are sweet invitations helping me find my place in the familiar scene, at the manger St. Luke describes.
You are welcome, to discover your place, too, dear reader!
A Sunday School Memory
Here’s a nativity scene — this is based on a memory of a Sunday school lesson my mother taught in kindergartens: the little gray lamb. Funny what we remember.
God, open my ears and shut my mouth so I can hear those angels sing — both over the world’s babble sounds — and within the church.
Christmas Day 2021 felt more like a Sabbath observance that a birthday blowout. For as “different” as this day was, it was good; unique, and restful. That’s not a bad thing, given nothing has gotten simpler, easier or more predictable as we prepare for COVID-19, year III.
Thank you, radio stations, and whoever, for creating and sharing Christmas music about the help and hope God is.
The Savior by Henry Ossawa Tanner
If Jesus was really and truly raised from the dead (and he was!), then everything will, finally, be all right . . . If we don’t let the cynicism and despair of the surrounding culture seep into our hearts and sour us—if we simply go about doing the things Scripture calls us to do, making melody in our hearts (Eph. 5:19) with gratitude for a sure and certain hope in the resurrection—imagine how weird we will look. (Tim Keller HOPE)
Thank you for these lovely reminders, faithful friend. As a retiree I forget to listen to the radio when at home. I grew up with a radio in the kitchen. It was always on during breakfast so my dad could get the traffic report before leaving for work.
I tuned the radio in my car on to the local Christian radio recently to catch some seasonal joy and was shocked to hear, not praise and thanksgiving for the coming of the Christ child but an appeal to the fates to be home for Christmas. I switched it off — that station has confused their theology. I went back to Getty playlists on YouTube.
Not sure about playlists — just happy to tune into WBJC and WETA– and make the CD’s work. Old aren’t I? LOLO
Barbara, not to brag or anything…guess I am a bit proud and excited…but I recently created my FIRST, and so far only, playlist… on Spotify. Quite an accomplishment for this old technophobe!
Heretofore I had only borrowed other peoples’ lists. BSF has a good one.
I titled it Quiet Christmas…and it mostly is quiet and soothing and peaceful.
WOW! Impressed — I am.