Christmas for a Cause

Tonight is going to be awesome. Of course, every time I go up to Boone it is an absolutely amazing time, but I have an extra good feeling about tonight. I'll be sharing the stage with some super talented people in an effort to raise money for Christmas for a Cause, a wonderful organization that has helped thousands and thousands of people. So tonight we will gather and sing Christmas songs, have coffee and hot chocolate, and share the joy of the season as a community. As part of this, I was asked to write an original Christmas song. While at first everything I wrote came out cheesy, the writing process ultimately took me on a journey to discover what about Christmas really captures my heart and soul. Here is a little background on the song's inspiration and the lyrics.

At the bookstore where I work, we have little circular signs that sit atop the typical genre signs (the ones that tell you "Fiction" or "Psychology"). On the circles there is a snowflake design and a single word that is intended to make you think of Christmas. The words are things such as "Joy" and "Inspire" and "Give." While at work one day, it occurred to me that for a large percentage of the population, those words are nothing more than abstract ideas. They are linked to an emotional response, and somehow that is synonymous with the Spirit of Christmas. But those words mean so much more. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our King; the Incarnation. God is love. God is joy. God is inspiration. God is peace. God is giving. The list goes on and on. With the birth of Jesus, God incarnate, these abstract ideas became incarnate as well. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of all the sentiments we hear this time of year. When that concept clicked with me, I knew that was what my song had to be about. The verses deal with the struggle we have as modern Americans to keep our focus on the true meaning of Christmas despite all the hoopla and media. The chorus reflects the reality of the Incarnation, both God and His attributes. Then there is a single line repeated several times that reminds us of one of my favorite names for God: Emmanuel, meaning "God is with us." The child, our Savior, has come to dwell with us, to "tabernacle" with us. Let us rejoice. Here are the lyrics for my first ever attempt at a Christmas song, "Emmanuel."

The sights and the sounds

The lights and the crowds

It must be Christmas again

All this good cheer

Talk of a new year

What is this Christmas again?

It's more than just gifts, it's the gift of a King

The Savior was born and changed everything

Joy has a face now

And mercy a name

There's love in His lungs

And grace in His veins

Lift up your voices on this Christmas morn

For unto us a child is born

It's easy to let

Yourself just forget

Why this is Christmas at all

The Lord has come

In the flesh, as a Son

From the throne to a cattle stall

It's more than good cheer, it's all of our praise

Our Redeemer has come to love, to free, to save

Joy has a face now

And mercy a name

There's love in His lungs

And grace in His veins

Lift up your voices on this Christmas morn

For unto us a child is born

Emmanuel, God with us

Emmanuel, God with us

Joy has a face now

And mercy a name

There's love in His lungs

And grace in His veins

Lift up your voices on this Christmas morn

For unto us a child is born