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

Billy Joel has thus far avoided the requirement of every successful singer/songwriter:  recording or at least contributing a track to a Christmas CD.  Perhaps he expressed religious reservations because of his Judaism, but Billy Fans are most likely grateful our hero won’t be crooning “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” anytime soon.

The Christmas spirit hasn’t totally eluded Billy Joel, however.  On his hugely successful and perhaps definitive CD, The Nylon Curtain, Billy has graced the holiday with She’s Right On Time.  The track is mostly focused on his relationship with a woman who manages to appear in his life just when he needs her.  The beauty of the song is found in its upbeat, yet mature spirit: the singer is one who has known his share of heartache, and knows life isn’t all it could be…but he’s hoping for better days all the same.  This woman gives him reason for this hope…and reason to deck the halls:

Turn on all the Christmas lights/’Cause baby’s coming home tonight/I can hear her footsteps in the street

Turn the choral music higher/pile more wood upon the fire/that should make the atmosphere complete

I’ve had to wait forever/but better late than never

She’s just in time for me/she’s right on time/she’s right where she should be/she’s right on time

Listening to the song from a faith perspective, I wonder too if the listener might find reason to celebrate our God, who is always right on time?  While we may have our own schedules for how the events of life should transpire, when we look back, we often see how things worked out just the way they needed to…in God’s time.

And it occurred to me/while I set up my Christmas tree/she never missed a cue or lost a beat

Everytime I lost the meter/there she was where I would need her/greeting me with footsteps in the street

I guess I should have known it/she’d find the perfect moment

God is good, all the time.

Maria’s Hidden Christmas Tracks:

 Dear Readers:

I am “blogging the book” along with you.  My daily blog postings are my musings this year as I prepare my heart for a great Christmas.

Today my intention is to approach my projects with a spirit of enthusiasm and not let their scope or details discourage me.

I hope you have a great day!

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Remember when this was the most pressing item on our minds? 

Recalling what we’re grateful for can take us back to that place of wonder.  On my gratitude list today are:  my family; dear colleagues and friends; our home; and music!

Today my intention is to trust that God is in charge.  As my friend Renee recently emailed me: 

I have resigned my position of Manager of the Universe this year.  Some gifts will be bought, more later than sooner for a change, children will either be happy or not, either way, I’m not overly concerned.  I’ve also resigned from my position as Teller of All Gifts to be Bought for Others.  I’m already behind schedule and if anyone wants to buy gifts for anyone who lives in my house, then they can go Old School and think of a gift all by themselves.  This is a very liberating experience for me and I’m sticking to it!

Let’s trust that the love Santa represents will be made evident in many creative ways, not just in wrapped gifts!

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 in Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas, we read:

The manger scene is a powerful reminder of God’s eternal open door policy.  As you set up your creche this year, reflect upon each character and the special purpose he or she had to bring Jesus into the world.  Pray for an open heart to accept this year’s invitation.

Today I wake achy and foggy from not-the-best-night’s sleep.  But, my gratitude list compels me to find things I’m thankful for, even when I am tempted to wallow in my physical discomfort.  There is beautiful sunlight streaming in the window behind me; my husband fixed a delicious egg sandwich for me for breakfast; and this new keyboard is helping ease the aches in my shoulders. 

I feel better already!  And when I’m grateful and feeling good, I’m more open to God’s invitation:  How can I bring Jesus to my world today? 

Today is Monday of the first week of Advent, and already I’m behind!  This morning we woke up late and cheered when we saw fresh snow on the ground.  As I drove my daughter to school (we missed the bus, of course!) I saw green grass and plants under the blanket of white.  They are reluctantly giving way to winter, but in our house we’re celebrating its arrival!

Today my daughter selected the December 1st item for our Advent calendar–a magnetized Nativity scene.  Each day’s slot holds a tiny addition to the scene, from stars and animals to angels and a special babe.  As the stable fills, so do our hearts in anticipation of Christmas day.  Today’s item is a tiny star.

I am grateful today for my work, my family and our warm home.  I am grateful for no appointments so I can work through my full to-do list.  Today my intention is to be grateful for all these tasks and to not let crankiness or stress get in the way of God’s work in all the things I do and say today.  And, to delight in the beautiful snow outside my window!