While the standards are playing on the radio, here’s a beautiful Christmas song you won’t hear all the time. 

In Bethlehem a manger waits

Long ago and so today

Where hatred-weary people pray

Love will come and lay there

Today’s Prepare Your Heart reflection centers on the manger scene, so here’s a great song Stables, written by Peter Mayer and available through his website off the CD Midwinter (1st track).   The stanza above is just a small sample of the exquisite poetry of this song.  Peter’s lovely voice and acoustic accompanyment bring life to his prayer for love to come to the stables of our hearts. 

Stables was a source of inspiration to me as I wrote Prepare Your Heart.  The entire CD–all original pieces by Peter–will be a great addition to your Advent and Christmas music collection.

Maria’s Hidden Christmas Tracks:

Today’s addition to the HCT list is “Gabriel’s Message”:  Sting’s version. 

Sting’s swirling vocals and organ accompaniment put the listener in a cathedral of sound that’s enveloped in deep silence.  This stunning version of the traditional hymn (with words by Sabine Baring Gould) captures the intimacy of Mary’s visit with the angel Gabriel, while simultaneously extolling the universal implications of her simple “yes.”

“For known a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy Son shall be Emanuel,
By seers foretold
Most highly favored lady,” Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
“To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said,
“My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.”
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!

Maria’s Hidden Christmas Tracks:

• Quiet Christmas written and sung by Michael Gott
• The Night Before Christmas sung by Amy Grant and written by Carly Simon
• Gabriel’s Message, traditional, performed by Sting

While the standards are playing on the radio, here’s a beautiful Christmas song you won’t hear all the time. 

The Night Before Christmas
Written by Carly Simon and recorded by Amy Grant
 

If your heart’s been longing
You’ve been afraid to try
Sorrow’s kept you company
And the dance has passed you by
I’ll lift you up and blaze with you
Across the moonlit sky on the night before Christmas

This song lifts my hopes and touches the depths of my heart at the same time.  In it, she sings joyful reassurance that there’s a place for everyone in celebrating Christmas:  “You don’t have to be an angel to sing harmony; you don’t have to be a child to love the mystery.”  Yet just as my spirits swell in joy, the above verse swoops in and finds that hidden corner of my heart that clings to sadness and doubt.  In the whispered tones of a dear confidant, the singer shines a gentle light on that dark corner.  With that light comes healing and release to join the dance and “blaze…across the moonlit sky.”   For me, this song captures the sweet combination of joy and melancholy the season brings. 

Visit this page on Amazon.com to hear the song and add it to your Christmas music collection!

Maria’s Hidden Christmas Tracks:

• Quiet Christmas written and sung by Michael Gott
• The Night Before Christmas sung by Amy Grant and written by Carly Simon

Recently my colleague and friend Julie Hood and I decided to cancel the Great Christmas Event.  We were at the mercy of recent economic conditions, as many women who wanted to participate chose not to in order to save money, and time…which, ironically, we had solutions to these problems to offer workshop attendees!

Reflecting on this decision, and the larger issue of our global economic future, I see that our celebration of Christmas, as we have known it in recent years, will be impacted.  And, I venture to say, for the better.

We have a big opportunity, this Christmas, to reclaim the heart of the season.  By bringing the material aspects of the season into their proper perspective, we can make this year truly a Christmas to remember.  We can start by focusing on the people, things and events for which we are grateful, rather than despairing over the things we think we’ll miss. 

One big part of Christmas for which I am deeply grateful is the music.  I’ve started a collection of hidden Christmas tracks–the inspiring songs we won’t hear on the radio, or those obscure songs from Christmas movies.  This year, I will celebrate these selections by featuring them on the blog from time to time.  Here’s the first entry:

A Quiet Christmas by Michael Gott

My heart longs for a quiet Christmas

Far from the hurry and the noise

Where peace on earth meets peace of mind

I long to find a quiet Christmas

Click on the link above and scroll down the page to another link to listen to this beautiful song.  This year we have the opportunity for the quiet Christmas that our hearts long for.

Dear Reader, please comment:

• How will this Christmas be different for you?
• What is it about Christmas that you’re grateful for?
• What songs do you find most comforting and inspiring during Advent and Christmas time?