Herod the king in his raging…

December 1974- Mrs. Liu’s hands were so fluid and beautiful as she directed the red robed children’s choir at the Methodist church. Pam could watch those trained hands and disappear in time. Her thoughts of shyness disapated as she opened her mouth to sing with the other children the well-rehersed song of “Lullay Lullay” or “The Coventry Carol.” The months of Wednesday afternoon junior choir rehersals cumculated for one Christmas Eve service. What is it about rehearsing song that gives a peace when a diphram releases it? The song was high in octave, fine for children’s voices. The song in historical meaning was high in puncture for children. Yet, so close to the joys and smells of Christmas, it would take Pam decades to recognize the full meaning of her young voice as she heard the song again.

December 13, 2020- The hymn service depicting the Light of Lights was almost over when a trio of women entered the stage. The carol ringed somewhat familar yet in a nostaglic way.

Pam’s mind raced for the lyrics. She had a storehouse and she relied on those lyrics to bring hope and joy in a world gone dim. Her mind caught the word as it appeared phoentically as Liu lee, liu lay, just like Mrs. Liu’s name! Her teacher’s face came to mind, her pronuciation of the words. How Pam had unknowingly disappeared in time. How many times did her choir director of Chinese hertiage have to pronounce her name so others may know it. Yet, here she was in at junior choir rehersal not giving word to her name but to the song. “Liu lee Liu lay.” Mrs. Liu’s trained hands once again flowed through the song. Her gentle nod when it was finished. It was such a lovely memory of her teaching young songbirds to sing!

Harsh words, oppresors, bullies and meanness also flooded Pam’s mind as she heard the song. “Herod the king in his raging…. all children young to slay.” In all reality, the star of light, the coming of the Christ, his birth and life threatened some. Some are willing to kill to keep power. This was the message for familes at the time of Herod’s reign. Death of sons under the age of two. It was a dark year yet part of the story. Could it be that young people singing this song gave voice to those babies killed by Herod?

“That woe is me, poor child for thee And ever mourn and may. For thy parting neither say nor sing, “Bye, bye, lully, lullay.”

Those are dark words for a child to sing. Why sing the words of darkness? For Christ’s sake. For Christ’s sake? Has it not always been for Christ to come to bring life? At the cost of death EVEN at HIS BIRTH? In a world of pandemic pandemonium there is life and LIFE and breath are threathen by a mean virus and a dark power. We have a choice in the life-giving song of Christ’s birth that radiates his light to the world. What lyric will you choose to remember? How does your life play a role in telling the story? Each person has a storehouse of what God has planted to share.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shown. Isaiah 9:2

Thanks for reading as I practice my hand at writing. While I aim at fiction-novel writing, sometimes I share my own story as it comes to me “On the Air” of my day.