Christmas in Perspective

Last week I posted a link to a song on Facebook. I was feeling a little overwhelmed, probably depressed and certainly angry about something insignificant in my life. Because I know I have such a blessed life and to be angry about something insignificant is purely me being selfish and unappreciative of the blessings that have bestowed upon me.

But that's the way I feel sometimes. I know we all feel that way, maybe even more so during the busy holiday season.

I'm going to share some songs tonight - one is the same song I posted to Facebook.


If you read my blog regularly, you know that I am a huge Sara Bareilles fan. Her cover of Joni Mitchell's River was released in 2008, but I never bought it until a couple weeks ago, which is weird because I normally buy her recordings as soon as they are released. Maybe I didn't need to hear it until now. And when it rains it pours, because the only TV show I regularly watch, Glee, also covered the song last week. Like I was feeling justified in my feeling blue.

It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer, singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

But it don't snow here, it stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
And then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

As a counterpoint, another Sara B song, this one just released (and promptly purchased) - Love is Christmas, to help me put things more into perspective...

I don’t care if the house is packed,
Or the strings of light are broken.
I don’t care if the gifts are wrapped,
Or there’s nothing here to open.

Love is not a toy, and no paper will conceal it.
Love is simply joy that I’m home.

I don’t care if the carpet's stained; we've got food upon our table.
I don’t care if it’s gonna rain, our little room is warm and stable.

Love is who we are, and no season can contain it.
Love would never fall for that.

We sing oooooooooooooooo

Let love lead us, love is Christmas.

Why so scared that you’ll mess it up? When perfection keeps you haunted.
All we need is your best my love, that’s all anyone ever wanted.

Love is how we do, let no judgment overrule it.
Love I look to you, and I sing.

Let love lead us, love is Christmas.
Let love lead us, love is Christmas.

Finally, a small clip of a song our church choir sang last Sunday - I sing in the choir and we perform once a year - at Christmas. The song, Hope is Born Again really touched my heart last Wednesday and snapped me out of my funk....

I couldn't find a full recording anywhere online (even though I know we were recorded during our performance, but I'm sure due to copyright restrictions, our church doesn't publish them online), and the best I could find was a promotional compilation:


The song starts at 3:37

Winter Chill
Icy day
Christmas cheer feels far away
Heavy heart
December blue
Night falls hard on this solitude
Somewhere in the twilight
A star of wonder shines
And a carol breaks the silence
To remind this heart of mine
God has stepped across the sky
From the other side
He came near to us
He is real to us
The Father reaches out his hand to every child and man
Hope is born again

I hope that if you are feeling overwhelmed this Christmas season to remember the Gift that is Christmas. Blessings to you.