A City, A Song, and a Proclamation
December 18, 2020
It’s not lost on me just how meaningful and memorable my last trip to New York City was… It was December 2017, and the city, as always at that time of year, was brimming with the excitement of the season. The sidewalks were spilling over with people, department storefronts were decked out to the max, horse-drawn carriages carrying jubilant passengers plodded by, grocers were busy replenishing fresh goodies outside their stores. Every place my friends and I went were jammed… We waited quite a while to try on a pair of boots at Macy’s, or to buy gifts from a street side vendor, or to get a table for dinner due to the lines, but no one cared. Everyone was in a good mood. You could practically feel the “friendtricity” in the air. Why? Because it was Christmastime.
A significant thing happened on this particular trip to NYC (in addition to being there with two very good friends!) One late afternoon on our way back to the hotel from a day of shopping, eating and imbibing , we came across Fifth Avenue. Fifth Avenue is one of those bucket-list items to see and experience this time of year in NYC – the lights, the storefronts, the music, the magic. It was wall-to-wall people that late afternoon. The kind of crowd that might ordinarily set off warning bells, or cause anyone with a trace of claustrophobia (like yours truly) to wilt. The three of us stood in the midst of the throng – all of us heads tilted back, wrapped in earmuffs and hats; steam pumping through scarves in the cold, early night, gazing up in awe and wonder at the light and music show dancing across the fronts of the tall buildings. Kids sat on fathers’ shoulders to witness the amazing display above the crowd. Gasps and cries of joy and glee would emit when a new set of lights would flash, or a familiar childhood Christmas tune would cozy up like an old friend to accompany the spectacle. A total sense of warmth and camaraderie enveloped the scene.
When it was time to move on, my friends and I worked our way through the network of people, and literally stumbled out of the crowd onto the relatively open sidewalk beyond, smiling and giggling as we came. At that moment, I was so overcome by the love of God that I fell against a wall of the nearest building and burst into tears. My friends, who had continued walking, all of a sudden realized I wasn’t with them, saw me, and came trotting back. With concerned looks on their faces, they asked me what was wrong. I shared with them what I felt and said “This is exactly how it’s supposed to be.” We had just been eye-witnesses – no, participants in God’s “sea of love”. With misty eyes, the three of us looped arms and began again down the sidewalk, lunging joyfully within seconds into the ageless “lions and tigers and bears – oh my!” yellow-brick-road romp toward our hotel and the rest of what God had for us in that city of light.
A news reporter said today “New York City is like a ghost town” as the camera panned the nearly empty streets and sidewalks of downtown Manhattan. Never in my lifetime would I have thought this to be reality at this time of year – never. But God has a plan at the close of this year of “unprecedenteds” into the coming new year for not only New York City, but all cities, all towns and every nook and cranny of this, His beloved country to the ends of the earth. This year will end with His beginning. He’s reminding us once again of the day over two-thousand years ago when He came as a light of hope and fulfillment of salvation for all on that Holy Night which endures the test of time and is renewed every second of every day year in and year out. God is love and His love never fails. He, God is the Bright and Morning Star, as He will showcase to us again in all His glory on December 21st (see link below).
I proclaim that I will return to NYC with my friends someday soon to see sidewalks spilling over with people, department storefronts decked to the max, horse-drawn carriages carrying jubilant passengers, and grocers replenishing fresh goodies outside their stores. How can I proclaim this? I believe in what God promises; to make all things new, and I will proceed in faith as David did and proclaimed himself all those years ago “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Claudia Monroe
clumon@yahoo.com
Lyrics to O Holy Night
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
Planets Align Before Christmas to Produce “Star of Bethlehem”-Like Phenomenon
Scripture References: 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:8, Revelation 22:16, Revelation 21:5, Psalm 27:13