For Hate is Strong

I've been listening to Christmas songs for weeks now, just wanting to fill my soul with Jesus and the peacefulness of His birth and His life. Unintentionally, I even quit reading the news and life has slowed down for me this Christmas season and grounded me to the real reason I celebrate. Today, I felt unwillingly catapulted back into the world and the brutality and hatefulness that exists. Today, a young man killed 28 people, including 20 children in an elementary school in Connecticut. It is unimaginable on so many levels and has happened too many times in our world.

After I heard, I came home and made sure all my doors and windows were locked and then pulled my little ones close to me. I hugged them extra hard, lingered with them over lunch and read every word and even added a few to their nap time books. I just wanted to treasure them. I just wanted them to feel safe and loved, even though they are unaware of what horrific events that occurred today.

Then I sat down to work, my mind still fixating on the sketchy details of the murder scene. I couldn't focus and kept thinking about how many in our world are "past feeling" and wondering what I could do to shelter my little ones from this reality. I turned back to my Christmas songs to seek some serenity. My mind was still running and despite the Christmas songs streaming, I couldn't focus on the lyrics but instead another stanza of a song filled my mind.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

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.”

These last words kept filling my mind, “For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.” I just had to sit there with that for a long time, think about it, and let it play over and over in my head. I had to agree that hate is strong and there are those that mock true seekers of peace and enduring happiness. There are those that are so "past feeling" that empathy, love, compassion, sorrow for sins and forgiveness are emotions that no longer occur for them. They are hollow. Their feelings shallow and only skin deep. They are obsessed with self, with vindication, with spite, with that which does not "live" and ultimately with hate. They have let these emotions run uncontrolled in their lives to the point that they are all encompassing. Before I could get swallowed up in worry and sadness about our world today and our future world, the next words of the song leapt loudly out at me.

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.”

Till, ringing, singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And again, the peace that only Christ, Jesus, can bring to my life returned. I breathed it in deeply. There is a plan. God will prevail. The power of love is immense and can heal lives, mend wounds and bring life. I'm so grateful for the Prince of Peace this day.