My Hope for 2013

I know it might be early to be mentioning a resolve but we raced home from Jordan/Hillary's, to be sure we safely made it over the roads before the blizzard which is scheduleded arrives.  On the way down to Columbus while singing to Christmas carols, one line in particular struck me as important.  It's not that I haven't sung this carol nor know the sentiment.  It's just that THIS time, I heard it and decided it's what I wanted to resolve for 2013.  "His Law is Love and His Gospel is Peace".

In a time when we have witnessed the senseless shooting of innocent elementary school children and some teachers, or firemen who arrive on the scene to save a home and are killed instead, or the crazies who want to kill a movie theater...and the emotions I have felt for these gunmen...perhaps it's the Lord's way of telling me I need Love and Peace in 2013 so that's my lofty goal.

And of course there are the words to the following song which Robert and I have decided to commit to memory.  Peter Yarrow wrote this when it dawned on him there really were no Hanukkah songs to be song at this time of year, popularly-wise.

LIGHT ONE CANDLE
PETER YARROW - 1983

Light one candle for the Maccabee children

With thanks that their light didn't die

Light one candle for the pain they endured

When their right to exist was denied

Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice

Justice and freedom demand

But light one candle for the wisdom to know

When the peacemaker's time is at hand

chorus:

Don't let the light go out!

It's lasted for so many years!

Don't let the light go out!

Let it shine through our love and our tears.

Light one candle for the strength that we need

To never become our own foe

And light one candle for those who are suffering

Pain we learned so long ago

Light one candle for all we believe in

That anger not tear us apart

And light one candle to find us together

With peace as the song in our hearts
What is the memory that's valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?

What's the commitment to those who have died
That's we cry out they've not died in vain?
We have come this far always believing
that justice would somehow prevail
this is the burden, 
this is the promise
this is why we will not fail!

Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!

So to all who read this, hopefully many years in the future...here's my hope for myself for the upcoming new year.  Blessings to all of you!