Sunday, December 17, 2006

christmas thoughts

no more "i'm sick and cranky" posts. i'm sick of them.

after church tonight, there was another christmas choral concert, this time with full orchestra. since my actual christmas holiday involves familial chaos, i thought i'd soak in the christmas festivites tonight. it was quite beautiful, a wonderful time of meditating on the miracle of the incarnation. this song was sung. i didn't like this particular musical arrangement, as it sounded too lighthearted for the actual lyrics...

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.


there are times when you really feel the "in-between-ness" of the reality we are in. that Jesus, our Emmanuel, has already come and done these things. and we still mourn, live in exile, and in darkness. we are thankful that he has come, that he lived among us. there is much to rejoice and be thankful for, and much to mourn. we long for him to return.

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

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