Many years ago, I encountered a post on some forum or blog where a prison inmate (recently released? I don’t remember) had posted this poem:
Bells Across the Snow
O CHRISTMAS, merry Christmas!
Is it really come again?
With all its memories and greetings,
With its joy and with its pain.
There’s a minor in the carol,
And a shadow in the light,
And a spray of cypress twining
With the holly wreath tonight.
And the hush is never broken
By the laughter light and low,
As we listen in the starlight
To the “bells across the snow.’
O Christmas, merry Christmas!
‘Tis not so very long
Since other voices blended
With the carol and the song!
If we could but hear them singing
As they are singing now,
If we could but see the radiance
Of the crown on each dear brow;
There would be no sigh to smother,
No hidden tear to flow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the ‘bells across the snow.’
O Christmas, merry Christmas!
This never more can be;
We cannot bring again the days
Of our unshadowed glee.
But Christmas, happy Christmas,
Sweet herald of goodwill,
With holy songs of glory
Brings holy gladness still.
For peace and hope may brighten,
And patient love may glow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the ‘bells across the snow.’
I later found it was written by the nineteenth century poet and hymn writer, Frances Ridley Havergal. I set the poem to music and recently recorded it, and I submitted it (combined with Christina Rossetti’s “In the Bleak Midwinter” as an EP called “Snow on Snow”) to my distributor for Spotify and other streaming services. Hopefully it will be live in a few days. In the meantime it can be accessed on Dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jamcqlf855eidusjv459w/AMDGJdi-oDSTOC7YWJLqCEY?rlkey=a3pbms9fll6vl2ox69e4o1qds&st=1kb2jqbk&dl=0
How beautiful this sentiment is & what a great idea to set it to music. I will listen to your recording-- sitting and listening to it intently to both the melody and the lyrics. It's raining here with no chance of snow, but I can certainly remember the beauty of light upon the snow. Thank you for this lovely gift of the season.
oh so beautiful, I read this each year in the old devotional of Mrs E Cowman called Streams in the Desert. Thank you! Have listened to your rendition, it's equally beautiful!
Here is piece I penned the other day which comes from my work on compassion and acceptance. I fail in thoughts but catch them immediately and stop the negative wrongs that defile the soul
Three Truths
Your words in script and speech are yours alone
What ever you do own the action taken
Ones thoughts are that which we live with
These three irrefutable truths determine our bearing and reflect who we are
YES, so true! Thanks for this thought! Thank goodness, also, for the instant recognition and the firm "cancel - cancel" of misdirection that brings the maturity of understanding, relief and a smile to know "all is well," and so it is.....
I am so blessed to be on this post with all of you!! Celia, you are so gifted and I am always amazed at what powerful pieces you bring to us! They are always so right for the moment!!
Thank you everyone for your insights and writings! They help so much to know others are walking in ‘this’ ( whatever ‘this’ is!!) and we will make it together!! What a wonderful place you have created here fir us , Celia!! God bless!!
An excellent reminder from Ps 1. And not only do we face the threat of absorbing--from the exterior--the ways of the wicked, the plotters and the scoffers, we have the capacity of generating these evils from within, becoming wicked, plotting and scoffing all on out own.
Jealousy, vindictiveness, envy, avarice, lying, backbiting, viciousness and much, much more is within our store. Who can save us from this miserable state?
On the natural level, there is none. There is only the amassing--by heroic effort--of power, at first seemingly for the good, and then slowly and inevitably corrupted. Entropy, or chaos, comes for its due. The cycle continues relentlessly.
Only does meaning itself, what the Greeks called 'logos', build with invincibility, undaunted toward the end, the telos---sovereign over all disorder, evil and malice. The Christian sees that, and a bit more. That meaning is is not merely a broad concept, but collapses into--or becomes instantiated into--a person.
I arrived at my parents’ house this year, my child under my wing, a bruised and battered man, a survivor of a denied affliction. My dad is in poor health, perhaps haunted by the same thing, though unafraid and rugged as always. He and I talked at some length about the trials and tribulations of this world, and the lessons they teach. I did my usual descent into ego as my family gathered, all of us quietly judging each other only because we believe the others are doing the same. But it was a little better this time. I felt a sense that we all recognized each other as brothers and sisters in pain, humbled and not arrogant, sincere in our efforts at affection. It was different. And then my niece’s Bible app recommended this verse from James which my Dad and I shared and pondered: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I take the blows. Gladly. My love will never quit. It is endless. One day this trifling little ego of mine will let me show it the way I want. One day we’ll be weird and broken enough to be receptive. Getting closer. Not quite there.
Yes, health freedom truthers have been biting and devouring one another for quite a spell now. Self rightious hackivists.Watch out for flying memes etc.!
“Do not mix with the wicked, plotters or scoffers, will bring ruin.”
This is why I never have a congregation to stand in.
Its also why I’ve been blown away all over the world, everywhere I was chased out into, blown away again and again, leaving me isolated.
One does not prosper without being established in a home.
For the sake of what is right I’ve been driven out of human society. My peaceful presence made comfortable people wicked, for some strange reason. I’m incessantly dismissed as being the source of the troubles inflicted on me. Therefore, I periodically come across these sort of words and balk to receive condemnation, not only from the world of humans, but also from God.
I’m not into receiving condemnation, so I dismiss it once again.
If verses were meant to be a handbook, it’s a book containing some relativity, depending on your patience, determination and luck.
Religion without community is hypocrisy for the powerful and insanity for the lesser.
Many years ago, I encountered a post on some forum or blog where a prison inmate (recently released? I don’t remember) had posted this poem:
Bells Across the Snow
O CHRISTMAS, merry Christmas!
Is it really come again?
With all its memories and greetings,
With its joy and with its pain.
There’s a minor in the carol,
And a shadow in the light,
And a spray of cypress twining
With the holly wreath tonight.
And the hush is never broken
By the laughter light and low,
As we listen in the starlight
To the “bells across the snow.’
O Christmas, merry Christmas!
‘Tis not so very long
Since other voices blended
With the carol and the song!
If we could but hear them singing
As they are singing now,
If we could but see the radiance
Of the crown on each dear brow;
There would be no sigh to smother,
No hidden tear to flow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the ‘bells across the snow.’
O Christmas, merry Christmas!
This never more can be;
We cannot bring again the days
Of our unshadowed glee.
But Christmas, happy Christmas,
Sweet herald of goodwill,
With holy songs of glory
Brings holy gladness still.
For peace and hope may brighten,
And patient love may glow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the ‘bells across the snow.’
I later found it was written by the nineteenth century poet and hymn writer, Frances Ridley Havergal. I set the poem to music and recently recorded it, and I submitted it (combined with Christina Rossetti’s “In the Bleak Midwinter” as an EP called “Snow on Snow”) to my distributor for Spotify and other streaming services. Hopefully it will be live in a few days. In the meantime it can be accessed on Dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jamcqlf855eidusjv459w/AMDGJdi-oDSTOC7YWJLqCEY?rlkey=a3pbms9fll6vl2ox69e4o1qds&st=1kb2jqbk&dl=0
How beautiful this sentiment is & what a great idea to set it to music. I will listen to your recording-- sitting and listening to it intently to both the melody and the lyrics. It's raining here with no chance of snow, but I can certainly remember the beauty of light upon the snow. Thank you for this lovely gift of the season.
Thank you. I hope it blesses you.
There is the source and then there is all of us, the conduits. Take a bow, Rod Mackert. With this inspiration this time you are the prime messenger.
Thanks so much, Mo.
Thank you!❤️🎄🙏
oh so beautiful, I read this each year in the old devotional of Mrs E Cowman called Streams in the Desert. Thank you! Have listened to your rendition, it's equally beautiful!
Thank you, Pam. We have been blessed by Streams in the Desert as well.
You made my day Rod. Beautiful work.
Thank you, Dave, for your kind and encouraging words. I am thankful it was a blessing to you.
I want to acknowledge the beautiful harmony by Vanessa Etheridge, who sings with our church worship team.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful psalm
Here is piece I penned the other day which comes from my work on compassion and acceptance. I fail in thoughts but catch them immediately and stop the negative wrongs that defile the soul
Three Truths
Your words in script and speech are yours alone
What ever you do own the action taken
Ones thoughts are that which we live with
These three irrefutable truths determine our bearing and reflect who we are
Merry Christmas to you and All

YES, so true! Thanks for this thought! Thank goodness, also, for the instant recognition and the firm "cancel - cancel" of misdirection that brings the maturity of understanding, relief and a smile to know "all is well," and so it is.....
I am so blessed to be on this post with all of you!! Celia, you are so gifted and I am always amazed at what powerful pieces you bring to us! They are always so right for the moment!!
Thank you everyone for your insights and writings! They help so much to know others are walking in ‘this’ ( whatever ‘this’ is!!) and we will make it together!! What a wonderful place you have created here fir us , Celia!! God bless!!
Another Excellent one sunshine! Short and touching.
♥️ Happy Christmas to you all who seek the good and despise the evil .
It's a soul thing. Less is more. Everything is nothing, and vice versa. Make light.
Love, gratitude, peace to all.
The worldwide conspiracy against God is described in Psalm chapter 2.
There are no exclusions from the "kings of the earth."
Sorry Trumpsters.
Better to follow Jesus through the strait (constricted) gate, and down the narrow (afflicting) way.
NarrowWayTruth.com
and the antidote is Proverbs 2:1-11
Yes, that's an Old Testament description of the strait gate/narrow way of Jesus (Matt 7:13-14).
Those who walk it will live those verses.
Amen Celia !!!
An excellent reminder from Ps 1. And not only do we face the threat of absorbing--from the exterior--the ways of the wicked, the plotters and the scoffers, we have the capacity of generating these evils from within, becoming wicked, plotting and scoffing all on out own.
Jealousy, vindictiveness, envy, avarice, lying, backbiting, viciousness and much, much more is within our store. Who can save us from this miserable state?
On the natural level, there is none. There is only the amassing--by heroic effort--of power, at first seemingly for the good, and then slowly and inevitably corrupted. Entropy, or chaos, comes for its due. The cycle continues relentlessly.
Only does meaning itself, what the Greeks called 'logos', build with invincibility, undaunted toward the end, the telos---sovereign over all disorder, evil and malice. The Christian sees that, and a bit more. That meaning is is not merely a broad concept, but collapses into--or becomes instantiated into--a person.
Ian White's rendition of Ps 1, beautiful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGHKVIwBRbg
Thank you Celia. Some sanity in the midst of the chaos.
Amen.
I arrived at my parents’ house this year, my child under my wing, a bruised and battered man, a survivor of a denied affliction. My dad is in poor health, perhaps haunted by the same thing, though unafraid and rugged as always. He and I talked at some length about the trials and tribulations of this world, and the lessons they teach. I did my usual descent into ego as my family gathered, all of us quietly judging each other only because we believe the others are doing the same. But it was a little better this time. I felt a sense that we all recognized each other as brothers and sisters in pain, humbled and not arrogant, sincere in our efforts at affection. It was different. And then my niece’s Bible app recommended this verse from James which my Dad and I shared and pondered: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I take the blows. Gladly. My love will never quit. It is endless. One day this trifling little ego of mine will let me show it the way I want. One day we’ll be weird and broken enough to be receptive. Getting closer. Not quite there.
Thanks from Australia Very timely thoughts Celia
Yes, health freedom truthers have been biting and devouring one another for quite a spell now. Self rightious hackivists.Watch out for flying memes etc.!
“Do not mix with the wicked, plotters or scoffers, will bring ruin.”
This is why I never have a congregation to stand in.
Its also why I’ve been blown away all over the world, everywhere I was chased out into, blown away again and again, leaving me isolated.
One does not prosper without being established in a home.
For the sake of what is right I’ve been driven out of human society. My peaceful presence made comfortable people wicked, for some strange reason. I’m incessantly dismissed as being the source of the troubles inflicted on me. Therefore, I periodically come across these sort of words and balk to receive condemnation, not only from the world of humans, but also from God.
I’m not into receiving condemnation, so I dismiss it once again.
If verses were meant to be a handbook, it’s a book containing some relativity, depending on your patience, determination and luck.
Religion without community is hypocrisy for the powerful and insanity for the lesser.
Excellent and perfect timing. Merry Christmas.