I just placed a Christmas flag at the end of our drive that reads: “Joy to the World, the Lord has come.” And, at the center of the front lawn, I set letters that spell out the word “JOY.” In the “O” of JOY is a rendering of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and alongside the word are two angels heralding the birth of Christ
As I put all these pieces into place this morning, I was filled with sadness, and had to hold back tears as I recalled the lament in the poem, “Christmas Bells,” written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Just now, as I’ve started to write a reflection, I’ve come upon a story from 2014 that appeared in the St. Augustine Record. In the following, you’ll find my words woven in and among those of the unnamed writer of that story…
Two years prior to Longfellow’s writing of the poem was a tragedy that struck on July 9, 1861. His wife, Fanny, was near an open window placing locks of her daughter’s hair in a packet, using hot sealing wax to secure it. It was never known whether a spark from a match or the sealing wax was the cause, but suddenly her dress caught fire and she was engulfed in flames.
Longfellow, sleeping in the next room, was awakened by her screams and dashed in to rescue her. He was severely burned on his face and hands as he tried desperately to extinguish the flames and save his wife. She died in the fire and his burns were so severe he could not attend her funeral.
He seemed to lock the anguish within his soul. His family could see the suffering in his eyes, and they observed his long periods of silence. The burn scars on his face made shaving almost impossible, thus, the white beard.
Although a literary giant, Longfellow still needed the peace that only God can give to His children. On Christmas day in 1863, he sat down and desperately tried to reflect on the joys of the season. He was never considered a hymn writer, however, the poem he wrote on that day was later set to music by Englishman John Calkin. The result is one of our most popular Christmas carols.
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
As Longfellow completed the first stanzas, he was stopped by the thought of the condition of his beloved country. The Civil War was raging. The battle of Gettysburg was not more than six months past. Days looked dark, and he must have asked himself, “Where is this peace on earth? Where is peace in this war-torn country, where brother fights against brother and father against son?”
We might ask ourselves the same questions today as we consider the wars between Israel and Hamas and between Ukraine and Russia, when we see the violence on our streets, and the anger, anxiety, and depression that seem to be the order of the day in so many lives even in our own country.
With Longfellow, we cry out:
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then, as each of us should do, Longfellow turned his thoughts to the only One with the power to answer the prayer for peace…
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
Praying for peace, hope, love, and joy to prevail. Pray with me.
DFG Hailson 