Sunday, December 6, 2020

Yes, It's That Time of Year

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Every year, as is my wont, I like to introduce the Holiday Season (read Christmas) with the following song from the Dropkick Murphys. The video makes me laugh and it brings back a lot of fond memories of my Christmases over the years. (They weren't all as crazy as this, but some were awfully close.



The other day a British friend of mind reminded me of the tale of the Christmas Truce in 1914, during World War I. Which reminded me of a film my family and I watched, way back in the day when Blockbuster was still a going concern. I miss those times when the progeny and I would head out on a weekend afternoon and select videos to watch that evening. Back when we were all together, back before life sent us all our separate ways.

We had picked out a couple of movies, whose names I have long forgotten, when my daughter, The Nuke, held up a VHS box and said, "Hey Dad, how about this one?" We decided, what the heck, looks interesting.

The memory of that trip to Blockbuster and the movie itself are amongst my fondest memories. The scene in this clip still brings tears to my eyes.

Tears of wonder, and joy.



Yes, Christmas has become over commercialized. Yes, we start seeing Christmas stuff in the stores before Thanksgiving. Yes, yes, yes, there is much to complain of in this world.

And yet, there is much to treasure, much to be thankful for, family and friends spring to mind.

So no war stories today, I anticipate the coming celebration, and I await His return.

Lest we forget the true meaning behind all this...

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And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)


He is, after all, the Reason for the Season.

Amen.



16 comments:

  1. That was a beautiful snippet of the movie. Thanks OAFS. Little bits of Sonlight like that are welcome in my world.


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  2. Hey AFSarge;

    *Durn Dust*, Man I have read of the "Christmas Truce" and saw a couple of "artist renditions", but that snippet was awesome. I was seeing all those faces and 2 thoughts occured to me, one, was the innocence of the 1914 truce was never repeated, and 2 most of the people depicted in that clip are buried either in France or back in their homeland. Thank you.

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    1. It points out the idiocy of war as a means of solving problems.

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    2. Yes, what got me going was suddenly realizing that pert-near all those there were either dead or mostly dead within a year. Especially on the French side.

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  3. As I was reading the verse from Luke I heard the voice of Linus.......odd that eh? Good vids Sarge, the Murphys sleigh me.

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    1. I always hear Linus' voice when I read that passage. I was 12 when that program first aired, I've probably watched it 30 to 40 times since then, it never gets old.

      Heh.

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  4. So sad and beautiful the second video was.

    So very true the first video.

    And... following the little links at the end of Drop Kick Murphy's song led me to a Hu video - Yuve Yuve Yu, with English translations... How strange, how strange...

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  5. "He is, after all, the Reason for the Season."
    Thank you for the reminder; with all the hype there are those who tend to forget it at times.

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    1. I'm guilty of that myself from time to time...

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  6. https://youtu.be/V7nSKqfBk6k
    "Christmas is here,
    Bringing good cheer,
    To young and old,
    Meek and the bold..."
    May He give every troubled soul some joy. He knows we need it...

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  7. Amen.

    We all await His coming. Veni redemptor genitum.

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