A Wonderful Christmas

It is early morning and as I prepare to write, a song keeps playing in my head. I’m sure you know the experience. You are reminded of a song just before going to bed. You sing it to yourself. And then you wake up at three in the morning, with that song playing in your head like a broken record.

Well that was my experience, or I should say blessing, this morning.

I went to bed pondering how I was going to respond to our theme for this issue: Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. What a wonderful idea. Then, suddenly the chorus from Handel’s Messiah came ringing in my head: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...”

You will recall that the lyrics for that famous chorus comprise just 39 words taken from Isaiah 9:6 — but the stunning chorus seems to go on forever. Actually, it lasts for only four minutes and 15 seconds, but doesn’t seem to have a definitive ending. I suspect that’s one of the reasons why it has endeared itself to so many generations — you never get to its ending! Finally I fell asleep again, but was awakened in the morning by the choir chanting the climax: “His name shall be called Wonderful...Counselor...the Mighty God...the Everlasting Father...the Prince of Peace.” I could not shut these words out of my head, which is why I am writing about them now.

Of course, there is no sound at Christmas more majestic, or should I say “wonderful,” than Handel’s Messiah. Another great composer, Beethoven, on his deathbed pointed to the shelf that held all of Handel’s manuscripts, and to his visitor said: “There is Truth...”

Many don’t know the story behind how Handel composed his masterpiece. It was in April of 1741 that Handel, at the age of 56, was miserably discouraged. A wealthy friend gave him a libretto based on the life of Christ taken verbatim from the Bible, and commissioned him to compose a piece of work for an upcoming benefit performance. Handel jumped to the task and began composing in his little London house. He became so absorbed that he rarely left his room. In all, he wrote 260 pages of manuscript in just 24 days. His title? Simply Messiah. A friend who visited found him sobbing with intense emotions. It was to become the greatest feat in the history of music. And the word I keep hearing is “WONDERFUL.” That is what Jesus was to be called.

What is Christmas to us?
Millions observe Christmas as a wonderful experience mainly because it’s a “feel-good” time. Many have dropped calling it Christmas and now just call it a “happy holiday.” And it is in a sense.

I must confess that I love the holiday spirit that it brings. Carols fill the air. People generally seem to be more friendly and kind. We donate to the Salvation Army because we know it will bring a little bit of wonder into the lives of those who have little. And while the commercialization of Christmas is very evident, the brightly decorated trees, Santas in every shopping mall and families doing their Christmas shopping do create a bit of sorely needed family togetherness. Everyone’s expectation, including ours as believers, is that the Christmas season should be a “wonderful” time, full of beautiful music and happiness.

There will be those who, sadly, won’t “feel good” this Christmas. Perhaps they’ve lost a loved one who will be missed, or a father is away serving in the military. Many will be unemployed and it will be a sparse holiday season for their families. So it behooves us to put the wonder of Christmas in proper perspective. A wonderful Christmas comes from what Handel reminds us of in his great chorus:
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Keep this constantly in your mind this Christmas season and let it bring a deep sense of wonderment and peace to your heart—as it does to mine.