Advent 2 ~ Peace

 

This week we are leaning in to listen to the prayerful hymn, “I heard the bells on Christmas Day.”  Do you have a bell somewhere in your house?  I want you to go get it. 

 

Or I am sure there is a ring tone on your cell phone.

 

Or you can find the sound of bells ringing on the internet. 

 

Go ahead…I’ll wait.

 

There is a profound story woven into the Carol, “I heard the bells on Christmas Day.”  It starts with hearing bells.

 

Ring your bell.  Ring it loud.  Now ring the slow and soft.  Now you are thinking about that classic line from It’s a Beautiful Life, “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” 

 

Notice and name what emotions hearing the bell evokes/provokes.  Maybe it brings a smile or maybe you feel like the Grinch who stole Christmas, “Oh the noise, noise, noise.  There’s one thing I hate…all the noise, noise, noise.” 

 

Longfellow initially says the sound of the bells bring a smile to his face, he feels in his heart peace on earth, good will to all. 

 

And then, Longfellow ~ perhaps remembering and recalling the less-then-perfectness; the grief and sharp shards of life ~ hangs his head.  “Peace, bah humbug.”  Maybe he is even philosophical, “Peace is an illusion, like a mirror can be shattered.”  Peace is fragile and there are those who are bulls in a china shop or throwing baseballs near windows.  Longfellow laments ~ just as you and I are wont to do.  Over one hundred years after Longfellow wrote this, we echo his words.  And you thought social media invented trolling and pointing out all that isn’t right!

 

Ring your bell to think about all that isn’t right in the world.  Maybe ring the bell with intensity for the anger and frustration you feel.  Maybe ring the bell softly and slowly tolling it for those you miss and the hurt that hangs in your heart.

 

Keep ringing your bell.

 

And one of the most powerful lines, “God is not dead, nor doth God sleep.”  God is still at work.  God isn’t finished with you or me, God comes again this Christmas anew and afresh to all.

 

Ring the bell slowly, letting the reverberation ride the sound waves right into your soul.  Then, let peace ~ stillness ~ silence settle into your soul this day and this week.  Amen.