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Tuesday Morning Epistles
Welcome to "Tuesday Morning"—And
Merry Christmas to everyone who reads these words of
encouragement.
Henry Jackson van Dyke was a
Presbyterian minister whose ministry spanned parts of
two centuries. After graduating from Princeton
University, van Dyke served as minister of the Brick
Presbyterian Church in New York City before returning to
Princeton seventeen years later as professor of English
Literature. Afterward, he distinguished himself as
American Ambassador to the Netherlands, Moderator of the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and
President of the National Institute of Arts and Letters.
He passed away at in 1933 the age of 81. He wrote on a
variety of themes, both poetry and prose, and he
encouraged others to become engaged in developing their
talents to the maximum. He said,
"Use the talents you
possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds
sang except the best."
Recently I quoted a contemporary
adaptation of van Dyke's lyrics to the hymn, "Joyful,
Joyful." On this week of Christmas, I thought you would
enjoy reading or singing aloud the original words of
that great hymn. If you prefer to stand when you sing
words of praise in worship, feel free to stand. As for
me, I am more comfortable doing so while seated.
Together, then from the top,
"Joyful, joyful, we
adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like
flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin
and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal
gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All Thy words with joy
surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing
around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale
and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and
flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and
forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy
of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father,
Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love
each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the
happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is
reigning o'er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we
onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us
Sunward in the triumph song of life."
I have chosen a selection by van
Dyke for this week's "Tuesday Morning." It is entitled,
"Keeping Christmas." Though written a century ago, it
rings true today. Read on whenever you are ready. Then
plan to read it throughout the year. It applies.
Tom Barnard
An "Ever singing" Pilgrim
________________________________________________________________ Keeping Christmas Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)
There is something better than the observance of Christmas Day, and that is keeping Christmas. Are you willing… …to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you? …to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world? …to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground? …to see that your fellow men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy? …to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give? …to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness? …are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing… …to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children? …to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old? …to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough? …to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts? …to try to understand what those who live in the same home with you really want? …to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you? …to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your good thoughts, with the gate open? …are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing… …to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world—stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death—and that the blessed life that began in Bethlehem hundreds of years ago is the image and the brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. And if you keep it for a day, why not always?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tom and Madelyn Barnard 8404 NW 68th Terrace Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73132 |