It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Here's my devotion from the Christmas with Wartburg dress rehearsal on Thursday Dec. 3rd. I think we can all take something from it.

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Hi Band and choirs and audience!
Let’s be honest—the Christmas season can be pretty stressful.
Decorating, baking cookies, planning parties and family get-togethers, and the daunting task of trying to figure out what presents to give to whom. For students, throw finals and Christmas with Wartburg in the mix, and life about now is almost as hectic as you can get.
But Christmas isn’t meant to be this chaotic, believe it or not.
One night, over 2000 years ago, things were pretty crazy for a young woman and her fiancé. But that very night, in a humble stable, amidst the hustle and bustle of an everyday town, a child was born, one who would change the world.

One of my favorite hymns ever is "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," and largely because of the lyrics of the third verse. Usually, when people learn hymns, they know the first few verses but never get any farther or remember the other ones. Sometimes the most important messages are hidden in those lesser known verses, as is the case with this hymn. Here's what the third verse says:

And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing:
oh rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing.

Band, choirs: we all carry the crushing load of life, especially as homework and rehearsals and everything else bears down on us. Despite these struggles, take heart! Glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing; let tonight’s music bring you joy and peace as you join in the songs of the angels.

To all who are listening: in this busy time of year, we all need to take some time to rest beside the weary road. For the next few hours, cast your troubles aside, rejoice in the Savior’s birth, and hear the angels sing.
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