A Thrill of Hope – Lirika Davis
Just 12 km north of Avignon in the little town of Roquemaure the church organ has just been renovated. It’s the year 1843 and to celebrate the event the parish priest ask the native poet
Just 12 km north of Avignon in the little town of Roquemaure the church organ has just been renovated. It’s the year 1843 and to celebrate the event the parish priest ask the native poet of the town Placide Cappeau to write a new poem. The poem he penned became adapted to English and sang by millions is the well known Christmas Carol ‘O Holy Night.’ My favourite version is sang by Celine Dion. The words and her voice have this reverence effect on me that ‘hope’ awakes in my heart.
And we need hope, now and always.
The darkness of uncertainty, fear, sickness, loss, doubt and death have lingered more than ever this last year. Christmas will be different for so many of us. Although anticipated as a time of joy and cheer, for many it will be another lonely time, a time of sadness and a time of dashed dreams. The world has not changed much you know? Darkness had covered the earth more than two thousand years ago too. People were hopeless and desperate for something to change.
OUR POET WRITES
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.”
My dear friend whether you celebrate Christmas or not, let me encourage
your heart today. Christmas is about Christ and he came to give all people
hope and joy, redemption and freedom.
“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”
Because of him, Hope is possible, Joy is possible and celebration is possible.
Your heart might be broken my friend and your mind might be heavy, still,
Hope is available for you. The message of Christmas is about the light coming
into darkness and brightening our world, your world my friend.
It’s a message of love that conquers all fear, a message of good triumphing
over evil, a personal message for you that you are not alone. I would like to
close this text with the same carol I have started.
“Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The best is ahead of us friend.
