The Voice of Christmas

All stories copyright 2008 Bob Perks
Today's message:
"The Voice of Christmas"
By Bob Perks

He had been a long time member of the church but refused to show up
for services let alone join.

He was an integral part of the Christmas Choir, but would not attend
rehearsals.

Still, everyone looked forward to seeing him once a year. So much,
in fact, they would hold a seat for him at the candle light service every
Christmas Eve.

Many of the congregation would arrive early to get a good seat nearby
the gentleman.

Was it his personality? No, he really kept to himself rarely sharing a
word with anyone.

It was his voice. "Oh Holy Night" was his song.

Throughout his life he often wished for the chance to perform it at a
local church. Although the spirit of Christmas had left his heart years
ago with the passing of his wife, this one song, those special lyrics,
belonged to him.

It was said that it was her favorite song and although poor, the richness
of his voice was his gift to her. This church, that night, was always theirs.

As the service progressed anticipation would build. Everyone joined
in singing "Silent Night," "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" and others.

Then the big moment would arrive.

The choir would stand, the church organ would begin to play.

"O holy night, the stars are brightly shining" was the intro sung by the
12 member choir. Then, as if Heaven had open its doors, the choir
softly faded and the man began to sing...

"It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

You could feel the excitement as music began to
build to the refrain...

"Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!"

By this time there was never a dry eye.

After the service the man would blend into the crowd and
exit the rear door.

The tradition lived on until a month before Christmas that year.

He had joined his love, his reason to sing.

"What will they do?" one of the elders asked. "Who could take
his place?"

No one. No one would dare attempt to fill his spot. It would be
difficult indeed to come close to that long treasured moment.

"We will do the song in his memory" the choir director declared.

"But who among us will sing his part?"

"God had blessed us with his voice and His earthly choir is not
made of only one single voice," he assured them. "He will bless
us again."

That Christmas Eve, as everyone filled the church, you could hear
the choir warming up in the basement.

A small piano began playing followed by, "O holy night, the stars are
brightly shining" then silence.

The minister began by welcoming everyone and in particular the
visitors, "Family and friends who return home each year."

"In the center of the church you will notice a single seat holding a
bouquet of Christmas flowers. It is in memory of a man we called,
"The Voice of Christmas."

The service began building to that very moment they all waited for.
Lights dimmed and a young child holding a single candle in his hand
walked toward the front.

The organist began the intro and the choir stood to sing, "O holy night,
the stars are brightly shining.."

There was a sudden hush and the faint sound of one small voice singing...
"It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

The organ stopped. The choir remained standing as everyone looked
to see where the voice was coming from.

"Over there! I couldn't believe it. That beautiful voice was the child.
The child holding the candle."

He slowly, nervously turned around toward the crowd and said, "I'm sorry. I
didn't mean to..." and he began to cry.

The choir director rushed to his side and assured him everything was fine.

Then the young boy said, "I always sang along but no one could hear me. Some
man was always louder than me."

Laughter filled the church.

The minister declared, "God has indeed answered our prayers. We are blessed
once again with "The Voice of Christmas."

The organist began again as the young boy was lifted up to sing and they all
joined in...

"Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!"

We are each called to be His Voice not only at Christmas but all year long.

"I believe in you!"
Bob

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*****************

"I Wish You enough!"
© 2001 Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

Bob Perks, P.O. Box 1702, Shavertown, PA 18708-1702, USA