From Robert W Malone MD, MS substack, Dec 25, 2023
Christmas is not just a day of presents unwrapping, sweets and candy, family and friends gathering, talk and laughter. It is something much deeper.
I am reminded of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called “Christmas Bells.” It was written during the Civil war, obviously a period of great turmoil and despair in the United States. The poem speaks of a greater truth, of the goodness of civilization, peace, mankind and his relationship to God.
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and mild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.
We are about to embark on a New Year that we all know will be fraught with external tensions, angst and frustration. We may not be in a physical war, but we are again in a battle to preserve the soul of America.
Despite that, I hope we all can find peace, solace, joy and strength on this special (and every) day.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.