The hopes and Fears of all the Years

"The hopes and fears of the all the years are met in thee tonight."

We live our lives in conflict. We hope for a better tomorrow, but fear the long night. So many look toward heaven and life eternal, but we fear the act of dying. We want to love the people we meet, but have been hurt by so many. Like the lovers who hope to spend the rest of their lives together, but fear the first fight. We wonder how to speak words without being misunderstood. We hope for that special package, but wonder how we’ll feel if we don’t receive it. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. That’s how the carol goes – the one that reminds us of life’s contradictions – the kind we live each day. Will there be room in the inn for us? What about the life we are living – where will it lead us? Will we find a crowded inn or a spacious stable? What do we expect in this life? Who am I? Who are we?

“For lo, the days are hast’ning on, by prophets seen of old. When with the ever encircling years shall come the time foretold. When the new heav’n and earth shall own the Prince of Peace their King, and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.”

What song do they sing? Perhaps, perhaps it is an answer to our hopes and fears of all the years – the one the prophets foretold. I babble on about hopes and fears, but am mindful that I'm not alone. Take pause in knowing the world is still this night that we might witness what the prophets of old foretold. The midnight miracle will reveal to us what the prophets knew and today -- like every Christmas we embrace as our story too. At midnight comes the bounteous light which caused the angels to sing, the shepherds to hurry to the stable of the King, and the wise-men of old came with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.