Holy Night

I don’t know why but I’ve never really listened to the lyrics of most Christmas songs. Sure, I play and sing them once a year, like everyone else, when I’m baking cookies or decorating my tree or wrapping gifts (although I am really particular about which Christmas songs I actually like). But, I’ve never paid much attention to the words.

So, when I asked Alexa to play Holy Night by Celine Dion (my favorite version, although the Mariah Carey one is a close second), I was a little surprised when this familiar song, one I hear every Christmas, brought me to tears.

It’s not unusual for me to cry when listening to music. Music moves the soul. Think about any great movie you’ve ever seen. I guarantee you, it wouldn’t be the same without music. It evokes emotion and sets the tone. A slow, mournful melody. A suspenseful, fast paced beat. Music. The world would not be the same without it.

But sometimes we hear a song over and over again, and it loses its meaning. Or, we never stop and really listen.

Holy Night was written in 1847. It’s been around a long time. So, I am not sure why it took me until 2020 to really hear this song, but when I did, the lyrics stopped me in my tracks, particularly these lyrics:

“Long lay the world in sin and error, pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn’“

The soul felt its worth. The soul felt its worth. That line brought the tears. This song, which so long has been just another ordinary Christmas song for me, brings a powerful message about redemption and hope for humanity.

For me, and for the writer of this famous song, Jesus brings that hope. He is that hope.

Maybe you can’t identify with that. That’s ok. I’m not here to force my beliefs on you. But, I don’t think anyone can look at this world and not see the need for redemption, for healing, for hope.

I can’t think of a more powerful weapon than hope to fight a battle with, all kinds of battles, including the battle with anxiety. It’s the reason for the name of the blog. Hope helps extinguish fear.

Holy Night. Christmas. The night the soul felt its worth. The night the world felt a thrill of hope. The world is weary, still. Especially as I sit here writing this blog, in the middle of a pandemic. It’s 2020. The lost year, some are calling it. If ever there was a time the world needed hope, it’s now.

When things feel bleak. When life gets hard. When anxiety is threatening your very sanity, you are not alone. Have hope. There is reason for hope. There is healing from your fear. You may be stuck, but you can overcome.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.

Oh, night divine. Oh, holy night.