A Weary World Rejoices....into 2015

The holidays were a ninja this year. They snuck up...appeared..and disappeared in a valiant swoop.

Leaving me turning.

I even caught myself at the mall yesterday asking where the bell ringers were.

I'm going to miss that annoying sound, because it meant in some capacity that the world acknowledged a reason for a season. Even if people didnt realize they were glorifying God in their decorations, their songs, the songs they played in their stores, or even the trees they put up in their houses.

A Weary World Rejoiced. 

I connect with that part from "O Holy Night"

"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn'

Fall on your knees, O hear the angels' voices

O night divine, O night when Christ was born

O night divine, O night divine"

The thrill of the holidays coming and the anticipation of the new year.

The, "no matter how tired I am I will go and participate in holiday shenanigans." tiredness.

The glorious break of the new year and new possibilities. 

Falling on my knees in reverence at the Christmas services.

Hearing the songs and people rejoicing.

And then it is gone.

And people discard their beloved Christmas tree they spent too much money and 5347894 hours to decorate.

The decorations are removed from stores and from the outside of people's homes.

And life continues...

Each year the holidays come and go and it amazes me how quickly we can fall back into the same pattern of school, work, families, obligations, sporting events, traffic, etc.....and how quickly we, I, forget.

I forget that not only in Christmas can I be happy.

can I remember.

can I sing.

can I start new.

Because with the break of each day is like Christmas. And yes life continues, but I can still remember. The price that was paid and the perfect birth that came like a soft winter snow to save us all.

And with each day, I can be thankful.

Hopeful.

Happy.

New.

Today at church we sang Beautiful Things by Gungor.

And I couldnt help but smile at the people singing that, 

"You make beautiful things out of dust, You make beautiful things out of us."

Because it is true. He made us beautiful through the birth and the sacrifice, and with each day that should be our focus. Our reminder. Without the tree and lights.

...2015, the weary world still rejoices.