My talented spiritual singer songwriter friend Annabella Wood has a way with words and blending them with music in such a way that it delights and tickles souls. Today was no exception as at our interfaith community Circle of Miracles, she took one of my favorite Christmas Carols- O Holy Night and adapted it beautifully so that it took on deeper meaning for me. I was raised Jewish (the religion of Jesus) and although I was exposed to his teachings by attending services with Christian friends, he was still a bit of a foreign entity. Sadly, these same words were used to fuel hatred, so I was not encouraged by my parents, to embrace them. The more I learned about the man who embodied Divine Love, the more I came to recognize that anyone can twist words and make them mean anything that they choose. Likewise, they can translate and transform them into empowerment. What if we lived in such a way as this adaptation suggests? What if we let love, rather than fear, lead our hearts and influence our choices?
O Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the Way-shower’s birth
Long lay ourselves with little understanding
Till he appeared and our soul felt its worth
A ray of hope, our weary selves rejoicing
For yonder lay, a new and glorious life
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night that Christ was born
O night divine O night O holy night
Truly he taught
Us to love one another
His law is love
And his gospel is peace
Hatred shall ease
For everyone’s our brother
And by our deeds
All oppression shall cease
With songs of joy
In grateful chorus rising
Let every heart
Enjoy this glorious day
Christ showed the way
A way of peaceful living
His power and glory
Evermore be yours
His power and glory, ever more be yours