"When you believe..."

Last night I attended the Winter Concert at the Worland Middle School performed by the Worland High School Concert Choir, Worland High School Treblesome Nine, and the Worland High School Marshazz Choir.  I was taken by the lyrics of the song "When you believe" by Stephen Schwartz:

        In this time of fear
        When prayer so often proves in vain
        Hope seemed like the summer birds
        Too swiftly flown away
        Yet now I'm standing here
        My heart's so full, I can't explain
        Seeking faith and speaking words
        I'd never thought I'd say

        There can be miracles
        When you believe
        Though hope if frail
        It's hard to kill
        Who knows what miracles
        You can achieve
        When you believe

        So in times when all you hope is gone
        and you go through life afraid
        In your heart there lies a hopeful song
        that is there to guide the way
        and all the hurt and all the pain
        you'll soon learn was not in vain
        for all your prayers, they will be heard
        they'll come to pass through faith...

There are only 11 days left in Advent!  This season of hope and promise is not yet complete.  God can still work great healing in us and in our world if our faith is translated into action.  The action Advent calls for is repentance and service to others.  Repentance is turning away from our selfishness and allowing ourselves to be present to the deepest of our longings for union with God and others. 

The songs that resound in concerts and on the radio have the power to point to sentimental thoughts of yesteryear or to all but fairytale images of illusory happiness.  Yet I was taken by the profound promise that in a few of the songs, and especially the finale, our world is reminded of THE GREATEST GIFT:  Jesus Christ!  Christmas is really about US receiving HIM anew into our lives and then living in service to Him in Others!  This is where the fairytale and all the tinsel fade and either leave us disappointed and sad or the fruit of our Advent expectations and prayers leave us an enduring sense of gratitude, humility, and resolution to be like HIM! 



God "can do miracles, if when we believe..."  The work of redemption is hard fought and may not be obvious to us.  Jesus was not the King in the way that anyone had expected, despite the prophecies which told of a child that would be born.  Even in our daily lives it can be hard to perceive the steady and certain work of God.  It can also be difficult for us to see the fruit of our labors as we endeavor to live our faith in service to others.  Like a concert choir or band, we have to make sure to get the notes right and to proclaim with confidence the miracle that happened in Bethlehem and on Calvary and to allow the grace to touch us and our world anew!  There can be miracles still, we just need to believe!