Living Expanses

Living Expanses
A semi-regular accounting of Christopher J. Arndt

Monday, December 08, 2003

my favorite Christmas carol

is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

I first learned it (I don't know) when my father died. I learned it very quickly and it's not a hard song to learn. It holds meaning to me.

It means something to me because of the timing of it all. I associate it with a time when I was wounded and confused. It was a time when I knew what was happening but how I should deal with what was happening. It was a time when I knew that life isn't usually multiple choice.

It has greater meaning to me in a literal sense. The song's lyrics are very literal and quite true.

Take all that we have and all that suffer from, and know that originally you're in Satan's grasp. Rest easy. Know one thing; know that you are in God's hands. Despite your suffering and whatever your suffering once you are in His hands he won't let you go; you will not fall into the Abyss. You will not slip over the edge; you are His.

Take that as a reminder. The melody, the tune are soft and solemn, in recognition of... it's not to take the problems of life lightly. The salvation, and the comfort isn't from some fluffy peril.

Whatever peril or discomfort is slight compared to what salvation we're offered.

God rest ye merry gentlemen,
Let nothing ye dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray;

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came.
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

"Fear not," then said the angel,
"Let nothing ye affright,
This day is born a Savior,
Of virtue, power, and might;
So frequently to vanquish all
The friends of Satan quite";

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessed babe to find:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this infant lay
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All ye within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

I keep that. It makes me look forward to Christmas.

posted by Chris Arndt | 10:59 PM