Peace on Earth

Like many folks at this time of year, Christmas music is playing non-stop at our house. There is a song that is on only one of my Christmas CDs. The melody is haunting and the words made me want to know about the song's origin.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the words to this carol while America was in the midst of its bloody Civil War, on Christmas Eve, 1863. This was only six months after the Battle of Gettysburg where over 40,000 soldiers lost their lives. (Robert Joseph, The Christmas Book)

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Longfellow was not writing just about the tragedy of the war, for he had recently lost his wife, Fanny, and his son was injured in battled. His world, as he knew it was shattered.

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Just like Longfellow, we live in troubled times. People are worried about the economy. In California we saw hate in action after the passage of Proposition 8. But we can find comfort in the final stanza!

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

In spite of your circumstances, may you have peace in your heart this Christmas knowing that God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!