O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight
The sadness of this time screams over the quiet we expect on Holy Night. The babes crying, the mother’s weeping for their babies. They cannot be consoled. We will not be consoled…the pain and aching hearts move beyond boundaries of any nationThe care givers, the poets, the fishermen, the crafts people…targeted… murdered with their families. The targeted bombing of a poet’s home killing them all..
For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep. Their watch of wondering love
How dare we mortals pretend to sleep? Have we spoken out enough, have we written enough letters to ‘power’? Have we fallen on our knees, or our faces, and surrendered to the guilt we feel when we see the shrouded wrapped bodies of babies…and do nothing. Not enough. Not enough.
O morning stars together Proclaim thy holy birth
And praises sing to God the King And peace to men (all) on earth
The stars may sing because they know that the One whose birth we celebrate is the very One who demands that we stand, work, pray, hope and act for justice. Justice that can bring peace. Justice the only way to peace. Deep sighs are required to go on…to just go on..go on.
O little town of Bethlehem. How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight
There is very little sleep with dreams that bring peace..the dreamlessness of sleep comes because we keep seeing the pictures of tragedy. We seen neighborhoods and hospitals gone. We see homes and houses of worship indistinguishable from the rubble of our neighbors. We see packed hospital halls and rooms with people waiting for medical help, for medicines that will not come. Waiting.
The HOPES and FEARS of all the years…are Met in Thee Tonight.
When you sing and light the candles on Christmas Eve, be open to your tears.
God abide. Bobbie Giltz McGarey @2023 Easton, PA
The Spirit Will Tell You 