I recently learned of the shocking back story behind one of my favorite Christmas Hymns.
The lyrics of the poem-turned-song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) have always touched me with its message of peace and good will, despite living in such tumultuous times where peace and good will sometimes seem hard to come by. The context to which this song was written explains so much more.
1. I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
2. I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
3. And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
4. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
" God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
5. 'Till, ringing, singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!
The first, third, and fourth verses are especially my favorites. They seem to put words to feelings of despair for the lack of peace and the abundance of hate in society. How can Christmas, the season where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, be fully appreciated when the world is very un-peaceful?
Longfellow, the composer of the lyrics, found a way to convey the message of peace and good will to men in the midst of the United States Civil War. On December 25, 1863, two years after losing his wife in a tragic incident (she died when her dress caught fire) and while nursing his only son back to health after he'd been nearly paralyzed by a bullet just four weeks earlier, Longfellow heard Christmas bells and people singing, "Peace on earth, goodwill to men."
The lyrics he wrote that day capture the emotions many people felt then, and probably what many people feel now: despair, hate, mocking, and most of all and most importantly, a lack of peace.
Longfellow's inspiring response to his own pessimistic thoughts still rings true today, even though it might be hard to hear it now: "God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, goodwill to men."
This Christmas, take some time to really recognize that peace can win, that goodwill can triumph! This is the time is for us to appreciate the true Prince of Peace, who is not dead nor is he sleeping.
I can't think of a better time to celebrate the birth of our Savior than at a time when even faith in God is absolutely essential to finding peace.
