Recently, I have been practicing Christmas songs. I guess it makes me a bit of a hypocrite, since I do not consider myself Christian... however, I do consider myself a moral, spiritual person who loves the Christmas season.
As I sing these songs about the birth of the Christ child, I am amazed at some of the lyrics. 'Peace, Good Will Towards Men', 'Pray for peace, people everywhere', 'Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother and in his name all oppression shall cease' ... some of these lyrics are (there is no other word for it), *RADICAL*. Radical in a progressively liberal way, as a matter of fact. Radical in a 'Take care of the downtrodden' way. I like that. I *really* like that. I always thought that the whole Jesus story, this guy who throws the money changers out of the temple and refuses to judge the prostitutes... he really is a cool fellow.
The story of his birth is one of poverty and search and light. It is the light, at the darkest time of year, that truly gets me in the heart. The star that shines, even in the daylight. My Christmas song is about that light, and how each of us can light up a little piece of the world, right where we are. That light, along with all the other little lights that folks can put out there, that is what can light up the world.
Be a Light in the Night....
"It's like a warning to me...... Stay still, Shakey, and you'll turn to rust and dust....... So I keep on moving" -Neil Young
