January 2024
Sharing The Light
Ring Out, Wild Bells!
With the dawning of a new year, I am reminded of the wonderful poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Ring Out, Wild Bells." So many lines of this poem carry such insight and significance for our time, though published nearly 175 years ago.
"Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be."
As disciples of Jesus Christ, our joyful desire should be to help the ringing of the bells described by Tennyson resonate throughout the world. If we try to do just a little bit more each day to help others around us see and feel the light and warmth that Jesus freely offers all, we will help create a resonance that expands beyond our comprehension. After all, it only takes a little more from everyone to have a huge effect.
"So try to do a little good
Maybe give a little more
Work a little harder than you did the day before
It only takes a little good
And some doin' what you can
Takin' every chance to make the choice to help your fellow man
So do a little good
Just a little, just a little, just a little."
("Do a Little Good" from the musical Spirited, by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul)
With Appreciation,
