I've been reading and listening to several great posts and commentaries about Advent this year. We are now in the second week of the Advent Season. One in particular that really inspired me last week was a blog post called The Thrill of Hope from The Beautiful Due. Please do take the time to read the entire post but here's just a few thoughts that caught my heart.
"Sometimes our Advent celebrations get so quiet and reflective that, well, I just about fall asleep. How about pealing them with carols sung by a legion of voices? And by carols I don’t mean more Feliz Navidad or Mariah Carey, but the heavy-laden theological lushness of songs like Lo, How A Rose E’re Blooming or God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen or What Child is This? Yes, I realize you’re not supposed to sing carols until Christmas Eve or Day, but I believe God became small so we could break the rules, so there."
And also this comment:
"If enough of our voices were raised the earth herself might listen and possibly join in, the very rocks crying out…what if we exercised just a tad of moderation to the reflection and focused just a tad more on projection, joining hands in the crest of newfallen snow while lifting our God-given voices? Man oh man, what a gift to give this weary world, the gift of sound – Advent, a thrill of hope…nations might even cease from their warring and sit back, close their eyes, and dream of a new and glorious morn."
I know the stillness and the quiet of the season can be a comfort to many too... but I just love this idea of focusing on our "projection"... our joy, our excitement and the "thrill of hope" in this amazing event. I've decided to do that by making some music available for download this Advent season. I'm going to try to share something each week during the advent season. This week it's my take on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. some of it may be very stripped down and simple but I'll try to offer a tune a week. I know I'm a week behind already so watch for more to come soon. I hope these songs will help in your observance of Advent. I know for me it's all about making more room... let every heart prepare Him room.
