Ralph Brandt. Common Sense in York, PA - Christmas 2001

I don't send many Christmas cards. Last year in early December I posted this some of my friends as a Christmas card. When I look back at it the Columbine and the other shootings seem eons ago. It is more appropriate with a very few changes than it was last year.

Early in December of 1863 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned these words which are familiar to many of us.

It was a reflection of his times. Were we with him a hundred and thirty eight years ago what would we have seen?

But let's look on. We see that war so vividly in the almost unknown forth verse in which he records,

Many who were there did not see the babe in the manger because of the noise around them. And it would be easy to look at the world around us today and be discouraged. With the corruption in our government, the decline of morals, fallen church leaders, hatred, malice, strife in our land, terrorism, war, economic instability, it is easy to see nothing but darkness. Churches are burned because they are places people of different creed or color worship. Men and women are killed for a pittance or because of hate. A man's word and a handshake are no longer a bond, they have been depreciated to a formality. A sworn statement that is a lie is not important. Killing can be done in the name of God.

But this babe who was born in a stall grew to manhood. He taught a law of love, a law that many have followed down through the years, even if imperfectly. And from my vantage point, those who even attempt to follow it benefit their fellow man. But even in this time of trial for many, Longfellow could somehow look through the veil of the smoke of the rifle and cannon, hear through the noise of the battle the more profound truth of God's word and penned it in the sixth verse.

Many thought God didn't care. Many thought it was the beginning of Armageddon. Many thought time was about to end. Longfellow saw the future, possibly through a glass darkly. But he saw it. He lived to see slavery legally repealed. He lived to see the war end. And in 1863 with nothing but God's word on it, he penned that verse in faith, "The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."

What about us? Two of my favorite passages are from Lincoln's Gettysburg address. "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us... " and from I John 4:7 "Let us love one another."

Only with His help can we take on that unfinished task. Only with His help can we truely love one another. And only if we do can Peace on Earth come to our hearts and to men of good will everywhere.