even with this being a season of celebration of joy and giving, it doesn't mean that we forget that the world is a difficult place for so many people. the recent events in paris, roseburg, and san bernadino as well as countries like syria, afghanistan, and iraq remind us that there is much pain resulting from senseless violence. famine and disease continue in many places, and we don't have to go far on a city street to see numerous people without homes to call their own.
there are a few songs that speak to these kinds of conditions that are set in the context of christmas. this morning's song dates back to the mid-1800's and is based on a poem by henry wadsworth longfellow. the poem was written at the height of the civil war and reflects both longfellow's despair about his son being seriously injured in that war as well as the recent death of longfellow's wife.
if there is one thing that this song reflects is that the pains of war and loss have long been with us. it also shows that even in the midst of such difficulty, we may still find a glimmer of hope in the promise of christmas.
i heard the bells on christmas day - jane monheit from the season
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marin mazzie - back to before (ragtime) July 4, 1998
ii was reminded of this performance tonight and wanted to share it here as a tribute to a phenomenal talent who left us way too soon.
2 comments:
Beautiful. You know this English major is a sucker for stuff like this!
Robin
I live to serve.
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