Keep Singing

What a weary year this year has been. Personally, at least for me, we've faced a roller coaster ride of many amazing ups and lots of stomach turning downs, ranging from family births and deaths to lingering health issues we don't have answers for, to lots more travel than normal, to a sudden unexpected and long-lasting shift in our schedule from something somewhat normal to the opposite of anything normal. All this amidst several other things in what has been yet another season in a string of seemingly never-ending stressful season.

We're tired.

We're worn.

And as much as I knew I needed to take my elementary music class caroling to people probably feeling much more run down than me, I still (I'm ashamed to admit) was dreading doing so.

 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

The least we could do in the midst of my mess was to try to shine Christ's light brightly for others who needed that reminder every bit as much as I did (if not much more so). So, somewhat begrudgingly, I made the arrangements. I recruited the drivers. The kids and I practiced the songs. And when the day came, we set out to put a smile on some faces with our singing.

I was blissfully unaware just how many (many!) smiles would be put on my own face from us doing so. Our Christmas caroling was full of many fun(ny) memories that I will be glad to look back on even in the future with more smiles.

There's no need to delve into every smile worthy instance -- after all, there were several. But one in particular left me really having to bottle up the laughs, at least until later on, when I definitely did cut loose with laughter.

Despite us having made arrangements weeks in advance to go caroling at various nursing homes, every place we arrived at seemed unawares that we'd made such a calendar commitment, and thus went scrambling to gather residents to hear our singing. In the meantime, they'd show us where to stand as they went about assembling an audience for us.

For this particular laughter-inducing-incident, they asked the kids to line up in front of a lovely fireplace surrounded by a cozy sitting area, complete with balcony views overhead while they gathered the residents to come listen. When at last, the people had all arrived, the kids and I started singing. As I faced the kids, I realized, quite funnily, that the TV hanging above the fireplace behind the children was still playing, but silently. I recognized it as one in a series of movies known for being funny, but also full of multiple inappropriate moments.

The irony really set in as we continued singing songs about Jesus whilst above the heads of the unknowing children played a pretty notoriously inappropriate "pool scene". (Suffice it to say that in said scene, the character needed a lot less lust and a lot more Jesus!) It was blush worthy, to say the least, and I was doing what I could to not bust a gut laughing at the hilarity of the moment. But I realized that if I did, the kids would soon be distracted by something they definitely didn't need to see.

So I did my darndest to keep a straight face.

And we kept singing.

There's just nothing quite like a National Lampoon's pool scene to leave you feeling cringey and challenge you to keep a straight face whilst caroling with kids.

But we did it.

Afterwards, we passed out cards, letters, and pictures the school children had made to the residents. all the while, that scene kept playing for what seemed like forever in the background. And somehow, in true Christmas miracle fashion, none of the kids seemed to notice it. (I'm sure I would have heard all about it if they had.)

In spite of how weary I had felt going into the whole caroling escapade, I dare say the many humorous moments left me feeling energized afterwards. This particular one just takes the cake. Clearly the good Lord knew I needed some good laughs to lighten my mood and a great memory to tell my grandkids someday.

But as I have reflected back on this incident, I am reminded of something important for those of us feeling weary in this world. We've got to keep singing. It's no coincidence that the song O Holy Night declares that "the weary world rejoices".

And why do they do it? It's because of the thrill of the hope that they have in Jesus.

Maybe it's been a hard year. (Or a hard several years!) Maybe this season (or string of seemingly never-ending seasons) has been difficult. Perhaps you try to sing and feel as if your voice cracks to even get any sound to come out. Or you're way off key. Or whatever it may be.

Sing anyway.

I promise you that those kids and I definitely didn't all sing on key, and on at least one occasion we started a song in a key we couldn't really even reach, which sure didn't sound great. It's likely someone lost track of where they were at in the lyrics. You get the point.

It was without a doubt an imperfect performance in a multitude of ways.

But it still lit up the faces of some lonely folks.

And it was our humble offering unto Him.

Us just giving Him the best we could bring in that moment.

And it's really important that we keep doing that.

Even when the world is trying to counter the hope we have in Jesus with its muckity yuck. (Because, let's face it, sinners are going to sin, and Lord knows they'll try and drag you down with them!) Even when they may be trying to flash some rather inappropriate distractions to your audience (whether or not you are aware of such obscenities). But especially if those who hear you may be every bit, if not much more weary than you are.

Show up and sing.

Share the truth of His extraordinary coming. Of the hope we have only in Him.

I'll leave you with this. It's a song I stumbled upon this year while preparing for our children's church

Christmas program. It resonated with me enough that we sang it not only then, but several times while caroling with my music class. It's called Angels from the Realms of Glory. The chorus invites us to come and worship Christ. The verses are as follows:

1. Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o'er all the earth,

Ye who sang creation's story, Now proclaim Messiah's birth

2. Shepherds in the field abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night,

God with us is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light

3. Sages leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar,

Seek the great Desire of nations, Ye have seen His natal star

4. Saints before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear,

Suddenly the Lord descending, In His temple shall appear

5. Sinners wrung with true repentance, Doomed for guilt to endless pains,

Justice now revokes the sentence, Mercy calls you break your chains

6. Though an infant now we view Him, He shall fill His Father's throne,

Gather all nations to Him, Every knee shall then bow down

7. All creation join in praising, God the Father Spirit Son,

Evermore your voices raising, To the eternal Three in One

This Christmas, stop what you're doing. It doesn't matter if you're weary. It's okay if you're worn. Proclaim His birth. Shine His light. Seek Him. Watch for Him in hope. Let God's mercy break the chains binding you. Join with creation to sing His song. Proclaim Him to all who have ears -- let them hear!

Merry Christmas, friends.