Tárogató, 1949-1950 (12. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1949-12-01 / 6. szám
TÁROGATÓ 13 CHRISTMAS What does Christmas mean to me? The woodsy smell of an evergreen tree, Letters to write, and cards to send, With my best love, to each dear friend— Guarding secrets, and hiding away Gifts “not to be opened ’till Christmas Day.” Packing the baskets and sending good cheer Where lives are sad and days are drear - Hymns and carols, the bells’ glad chime, Sweet memories bring at Christmas time; The dear home ties are still more dear, A blessing to keep through all the year— And memory is the golden key That opens past years to you and me, When laughter and song and merriment With notes of sacred tone are blent. All this the Christmas time means to me And more, much more; I fain would see Those Bethlehem hills where shepherds lay Who saw the glory of that day And hear the heavenly choir again Proclaiming peace, good will to men, And know that everywhere on earth Would be observed the Saviour’s birth. PATHS UP THE MOUNTAIN By Peter Gordon White Have you ever wanted to climb? Then this Christmas Article is for you. Uhere are many paths up the mountain, but they all lead to the top. Some paths are more direct than others, some are easier than others, but one cannot throw rocks at fellow climbers just because they are on another path than our own. After all, if we keep climbing, we shall meet at the summit. You might think of this when you hear the Christmas story again this year. I like to imagine what could have happened in heaven when the people who were first to hear of the birth of Christ met each other. The shepherds heard the good word while they were outdoors doing their regular work. They were all unsuspecting, until suddenly heaven burst in upon earth, and there was the sound of singing in their ears. Music, which is order and harmony, provided the setting for a message of peace and good will which would be to all men. The shepherds, then, would be anxious to tell about the choir and the music. The Wise Men, on the other hand, were wealthy philosophers. They had studied the science of astronomy, they were students of the mysterious universe. For them a new light appeared, and they followed it even though it led them far. In their version of the Christmas story, the Wise Men would tell about a star. Finally, there was old Simeon. He had been a good man all his life, serving God in his holy temple. For him there was no singing and no star. Instead of sound or bright lights, there was the unseen but powerful Spirit of God. By its inspiration Simeon was prompted to come to the Temple one day. He did not know why, until two poor out-oftown people came up the steps, a newborn baby in the mother’s arms. Then Simeon knew why the Spirit of God had brought him here. This was the true Light that had come into the world. The old man’s soul was flooded with shining peace. So each would have his version of the Christmas story to tell. The shepherds would have a song to remember, the Magi a gleam to follow and Simeon the Spirit of peace. Each had been led to knowledge of God’s Son by a different path, but each had been led to the same Christ. Remember, this Christmas, that people can come to the manger in many ways. Some come with singing; for them Christmas is a time of bursting joy to the world. Some come by way of a long, hard pilgrimage of thoughtful study, following what little light they have until it leads them to Jesus who is the light of the minds that know him. Some come with no outward sign at all, but with an inner certainty that is strong and pure. There are many paths up the mounOUR ENGLISH SECTION.
