"A Song of Hope"

 

“A Song of Hope”

 

From 1953 to 2008 Dr. Vernon Grounds wrote an annual Christmas letter to alumni, supporters and friends of Denver Seminary from his ministry as Dean, President and Chancellor. He shared news of his family and the school as well as reflections on the Advent season. I looked forward to receiving it each year and have missed it since God welcomed him into Heaven in 2010 after a life well lived. (See the early posting, “Finishing Well”, for my thoughts about this godly mentor.)

For the Seminary’s annual Christmas Devotional booklet in 2022 Dr. Marshall Shelley reviewed the 56 carefully composed letters and chose excerpts from 24 of them to be sent to what Dr. Grounds described as “The Seminary Family”. The “epistolary exercise” (to use his own terminology) for 2004 cited the World War I account of the Christmas Truce of 1914 when German and British soldiers engaged in trench warfare laid down their weapons on Christmas Day and the words of “Silent Night” in both languages were heard across the “no man’s land” between the two enemy armies. More than a century later this glimmer of hope in a broken world reflects the angels’ song surrounding our Savior’s birth: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” (Luke 2:14, NLT).

Spirit-inspired music breaks down barriers and brings God’s people together (see “Undivided” for an example of how this principle can work). Many “…hymns and spiritual songs….” (Colossians 3:16) express our unity in “…the salvation we share.” (Jude 3) but too often it’s not lived out in our relationships and interactions with our brothers and sisters in Christ. As God was grieved when He saw mankind’s sin prior to the world-wide flood (Genesis 6:5-7) I believe He sorrows over the divisions among His people that Jesus prayed “…may be one….” (John 17:21).

During this Christmas season what better gift could we as Christ’s followers give Him than setting aside our criticism, judgment and lack of forgiveness towards one another and put into practice the words of Peter Scholtes’ 1966 song: “We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord. And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.” With God’s help we can do this as we “…look not only to (our) own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4) because Paul assures us that “(We) can do everything through him who gives (us) strength.” (Philippians 4:13, emphasis added).

Merry Christmas!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan