Tonight I got to attend a beautiful Christmas concert at church. Having included choir, orchestra, organ, and handbells – it was filled with joyful noise!
In between moments of stunning music, there were spoken poems and scripture to fill our minds with thoughts of the meaning and mystery of this wondrous season.
For the first time, I heard the poem “Ring out, wild bells” – by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
It got me thinking, as 2012 approaches, and we are nearing the celebration of Christ’s birth in the present world, how would I write this poem? What would I want to ring out and to ring in to this world? Ring out and to ring in to my life in 2012? To let Christ ring out and to ring in to my heart this Christmas?
Read Tennyson’s poem pasted below. It’s much deeper than just our ringing things in and out. But think about what he’s saying. What truths are there? How would you write it? What would you ring out? Ring in?
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
