Honest To God

Both sides stopped fighting for one night! (picture via histomil.com)

On Christmas Eve in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, an intense battle was taking place between French and German soldiers. Suddenly, a French soldier jumped from the trenches, exposing himself to the enemy’s fire.

Before either side could figure out what to do, he began singing Cantique de Noel—O Holy Night in English. Each side stood frozen as he sang of the birth of the Messiah. As the last chords of his solo faded into the night, a German soldier emerged from his hideout and began to sing From Heaven Above to Earth I Come, a popular Christmas carol in Germany. Both sides apparently joined together to sing an Austrian carol, and fighting ceased for the following 24 hours.

No one is really sure if this event actually happened, but there is enough evidence to piece together a story and believe something like this did once occur. Those soldiers obviously had some differences between them, and yet they were able to lay those differences aside for one night in order to celebrate something they had in common: Christ and His birth.

How often are we more marked by our differences than by our commonalities? How often do we allow petty arguments with a friend or a family member distract us enough so we loose sight of the true significance Christmas represents.

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My dad started a tradition when we were young. It was one of this cherished Christmas memoires we looked forward to every year.

St. Thomas’ Christmas hayride! How fun!

Around Christmas time my dad would rent a big trailer and attach it to his old truck. He’d invite everyone we knew to join us as we drove around the neighborhood singing Christmas carols. We were joined by people from our church, family friends, or relatives who climbed aboard this old rickety hay-filled trailer and began to sing. We wrap ourselves in blankets, and would have a have a steaming cup of hot cocoa in our hands. We’d move about 2 miles an hour through the neighborhoods as we sang at the top of our lungs. I cherish this memory and look forward to the day where I get to be the dad who organizes the hayride for my kids.

In the meantime, I’ve organized a hayride or two for the churches where I’ve served. After getting the correct insurance coverage I’ve connected a trailer to an old tractor or truck and drove through neighborhoods by our church singing carols. This is always been a magnificent time to minister to those in the neighborhoods. It is also been a great night of fellowship and fun for all who join – just like it was when I was a kid.

One of the things I put together for these hayride was caroling song sheets for everyone aboard.  I’ve posted those here for you to use in a Word document and PDF form. They are nothing fancy, but they’ll get the job done. Have fun! Sing loud!

caroling sheets (Word.doc)

caroling sheets (PDF)

Merry Christmas! As we get closer to the holiday, I begin to recount memories from years gone by. I remember when I was a kid, every year at around this time, our local radio station always aired a story that still rings clear in my memory. I want to pass that story on to you… It goes something like this:

It was cold windy winter night one Christmas eve. The Johnson’s home was decorated to the “T” with a beautiful tree, shimmering lights and stocking perfectly hung over the glowing fire place. The sun had now been set for many hours, but before the Johnsons were in for the night, they had to make their yearly visit to Church for the Christmas Eve Service. Mrs. Johnson and the kids began to bundle up, but Mr. Johnson sat satisfied in his recliner next to the fire. When his wife questioned, “Why are you not getting ready for Church? We’re going to be late.”

He begrudgingly replied, “What is the point? What does Church and Jesus have to do with Christmas anyway? We have heard the manger story a million times. Tonight I am going to just sit and enjoy my coffee by the fire.”

So the Mrs. and the Children were off to church, leaving their dad to dabble at home. Mr. Johnson entertained himself by watching the dancing shadows cast on the wall by the blinking lights of the tree… the only noise was the crackling of the fire. Until suddenly his solitude was interrupted when he repeatable heard pounding against the window pane. “Some kid must be throwing snowballs against my house,” he thought.

Annoyed, he slipped on his shoes to go outside and scare off the pest. He was surprised to find that there was no one out there but a flock of small sparrows. They were repeatedly taking off and flying straight into the window, only to hit their head on the glass and fall to the ground. “They see the warmth on the inside,” Mr Johnson thought to himself, “and they are trying to get in from out of the cold.

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Nativity image borrowed from kidologist.com

Every year at Christmas there is a house down the street where a light-up Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are placed in the front yard. The manger scene is set in the brown grass right after thanksgiving and it remains until the Christmas lights come down and signs of spring appear.

Several times I’ve driven by this scene to find it in several different conditions. I have seen footprints in the snow leading from the sidewalk to the manger where babe Jesus lays and someone has taken snow and completely covered Jesus. They obviously had nothing against Mary and Joseph, as they were still standing lit and looking down at… a pile of snow.

Other times this light-up couple have not been so lucky. I have seen them standing on their heads in the snow with Jesus nowhere to be found. Another time I saw all three of these figures stuck high in the pine tree that sits right behind their usual place in the yard. I have seen them sitting on the front porch of the house, and some times simply knocked over.

Obviously someone finds this simple Christmas display offensive. Maybe they are reminded of the real meaning of Christmas and that is just too hard to handle.

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