Reflections: Do you hear the bells?

Recently I attended “An American Christmas” at the Freedom Encounter Theater, featuring beautiful music by special guest artists Timothy and Hosanna Noble, along with drama and video portraying the historical setting of some favorite Christmas carols. One of my favorite songs was their rendition of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” a carol based on the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 

Written on Christmas Day, 1863, the poem is Longfellow’s personal reflection while hearing church bells during such a tumultuous time in our country’s history. In addition to the national chaos of the Civil War, Longfellow’s personal life was far from peaceful: Two years prior, his beloved wife was fatally burned in an accidental fire; then in 1863, his oldest son had joined the Union Army, without his father’s blessing, and was severely wounded a month before Christmas. Although the young man eventually recovered, his outcome hung in the balance at the time the poem was written. 

The opening stanza refers to the familiar context of church bells, a Christmas reminder of the promise in Luke’s Gospel: 

            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. 

The third stanza, though, is honest about the poet’s current circumstances: 

            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.” 

Doesn’t that sound like it could have been written today? Opening my computer this morning, I read dreadful news of another domestic homicide—following on the heels of yesterday’s news of a Hanukkah massacre in Australia—along with political divides, weather catastrophes and more. It can be tempting to think God is dead, or asleep, or just doesn’t really care. “Peace on earth” isn’t very evident sometimes. 

With those thoughts, we find good company in the Scriptures. Multiple Psalms are songs of lament, crying out, “Why?” to God. Yet, David, Asaph and other psalmists still reached the same conclusion: God hasn’t forsaken us. He does exist; He is sovereign over the affairs of men; and He will make it right in the end. 

Sometimes, God reminds us of his presence by reminding us of friends who care. The Apostle Paul, in prison and facing execution, reached out by letter asking his friends to bring him a warm coat and something encouraging to read (2 Timothy 4:13). 

Other times, the reminder may be consistently and faithfully seen around us, as shown in the Psalms referring to the stars and other majestic parts of God’s creation. For Longfellow, the comfort came through the consistent sound of the church bells, as seen in the last stanza of “I Heard the Bells”: 

            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.” 

If this is a rough Christmas due to loss, sickness, or worry, please try to follow Longfellow’s example and look around you—in God’s Word, in his Creation, or by mustering up the courage to call a friend or reach out to a church. In his mercy, he has given us reminders that He is not dead or asleep, and his presence will strengthen you as you await his promised eternal kingdom.