O Holy Night! So Deep, So True!

By far and I mean BY FAR this is one of my absolute and without a doubt favorite songs ever written, composed, played and sung. It's not just a Christmas song for me but something that stirs my heart and mind year round. I can't listen to it without wanting to break down and cry. I think there's a little place in heaven reserved for a choir who will sing this song over and over and over and people will want to hear it for all of eternity. Sometimes God does things for men (generic) that moves their hearts so deeply it breaks the chasm between heaven and earth. A little history....

"The words and lyrics of the old carol 'O Holy Night' were written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847. Cappeau was a wine seller by trade but was asked by the parish priest to write a poem for Christmas. He obliged and wrote the beautiful words of the hymn. He then realized that it should have music to accompany the words and he approached his friend Adolphe Charles Adams(1803-1856). He agreed and the music for the poem was therefore composed by Adolphe Charles Adams. Adolphe had attended the Paris conservatoire and forged a brilliant career as a composer. It was translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893)."

Why would God have a 'wine seller' write such an amazing poem? I suppose it's the way He does things, not just at Christmas but all through the year. He picks the least of us, the least of mankind to do things that at the time may seem special but may last for eternity. It's His perogative to pick through the masses and decide who will do what and at what time. And it's not always in the enormous earth shaking events. Most of the time it's ordinary, very non important people in the scope of the world that He uses to humble us all. Check out the 'real' lyrics...

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wise men from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Our weakness is "no stranger"...thank you. In His name all oppression shall cease...thank you. I wonder if God's going to have to tell me in heaven to 'fall on my knees' like He has to now. In the end "all men will fall before Him". It's songs like this that make me fall here on earth. Thank God for this song that goes way beyond my Christmas. Until next time...

P.S. So you know, I started this with Celine singing and finished with Weezer singing it... transcends all!


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