There are only eleven days until Christmas Day. The festivities are well under way. I know that in my hometown Perth the temps are getting up to 30 (ish) and here in northwest Bulgaria we are getting into -10 territory. These certainly mean that Christmas is not far away!
Today I’ve posted a poem that was written by Geoff Spedding. Geoff has an interesting global story. He was born in New Zealand, lived in Australia for many years and now resides in Rome. Moving up in the world some might argue. Some might agree wholesale (mainly Europeans and Italians), while others would agree on geographical terms only.
Whatever the case, Geoff places the music we listen to at this time of year under the spotlight. I tend to agree with his conclusion. Enjoy.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC.
by Geoff Spedding
It came upon
A midnight clear
Old Santa and
His red-nosed deer.
The music of Christmas
Is so confused,
The wonder of the season
Is so abused
With songs of sleighs
And dreams
Of White Christmases,
Frosty snowmen
And Santa Clauses
Coming to town,
Earning descendants
Of writers
Money for songs
That have nothing to do
With the birth
Of the Saviour
Of the World.
A drummer boy,
Pah ruppa pum-pum,
Now that’s just dumb.
Jingle Bells:
The whole thing
Smells
Of denial
Of Truth.
This time is for
Rejoicing in
The birth of a Baby
In Bethlehem,
Who came
To live and to teach
And to die.
The Son of God
Now dwelling on high.
The One True King
And Head
Of His people
Whose minds are
Blurred with silly songs
That have no bearing
On the birth of
The Lord of All.
On a silent
And holy night,
A Child was born
And laid in
A manger,
A feeding trough,
In Bethlehem.
Angels sang
Heavenly Songs
Rejoicing in His birth.
Shepherds quaked
At the sight of God’s
Great Messengers
Bringing the best
Of Good News.
It is a time of
Joy to the World,
The Lord is come!
Let all the earth
Rejoice!
In the little town
Of Bethlehem
The Saviour
Was born.
Christmas is a time
For great music,
A time for making
A joyful noise
To the Lord.
The halls
Can be decked
Another time.
Wenceslas can wander
In the snow
On another day.
Christ is born!
Let the Earth rejoice!
Tin pan alley
Has no place
In the revealing,
In human flesh,
Of the Lamb of God
Who takes away
The sin of the world.
So we should sing
Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
Christ is born!
That is the music
We need at Christmas.
That is the song
We should be singing.
And cinematic songsters
Should go away
And write songs
About another day.
New Year, perhaps,
Or a National Day
But please,
Leave our Lord’s Birth
Alone.
When we think of
Christmas,
Let us think of
Christ:
His birth, His life,
His death,
His Resurrection;
And let Rudolph
Disappear forever
Into the oblivion
Where all bad music
Must go.
God’s people have
A Saviour
Who is Christ the Lord.
We must sing of Him
Or all will fade
Under the burden
Of trite and foolish songs
That mean nothing.
Silent Night,
Holy Night.
Angels singing,
Shepherds worshipping
And a Baby
Breathing the first breaths
Of His human life.
This is Christmas,
This is real.
This is where
Our minds should be.
Filed under: Christmas, Christology, Church, Culture, Easter, Faith, God, Gospel, Jesus, Life, Poetry
