It is a New England Christmas by the sea.
All is calm.
All is bright.
The Sakonnet
is tranquil stretching in a blanket of blue to Middletown, Newport and beyond.
An old
English Christmas carol comes to mind.
“I saw three ships come sailing in, /
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; I saw three ships come sailing in, / On
Christmas Day in the morning.”
There is not
a boat in sight, but I imagine three.
“The Virgin Mary and Christ were
there, / On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; / The Virgin Mary and Christ were
there, / On Christmas Day in the morning.”
The Gospel
according to Luke tells us:
“And it came
to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that
all the world should be taxed… every one into his own city. And Joseph also
went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem – because he was of the house and lineage of
David – To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so
it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should
be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them
in the inn.”
“O they sailed into Bethlehem, / On
Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; / O they sailed into Bethlehem, / On Christmas
Day in the morning.”
The lyrics
mention the ships sailing into Bethlehem, but the nearest body of water is the
Dead Sea about 20 miles away.
“And all the bells on earth shall
ring, / On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; / And all the bells on earth shall
ring, / On Christmas Day in the morning.”
I hear the
ships’ bells ringing four times. The strikes indicate the hour aboard a ship
and regulate the sailors’ watches. The strikes do not match the number of the
hour. Instead, there are eight bells, one for each half-hour of a four-hour
watch. Do you hear what I hear?
“And all the Angels in Heaven shall
sing, / On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; / And all the Angels in Heaven
shall sing, / On Christmas Day in the morning.”
“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 Savior, which is Christ the Lord… 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.”
“And all the souls on earth shall
sing, / On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; / And all the souls on earth shall
sing, / On Christmas Day in the morning.”
Whether we arrive by donkey, camel, ship, sleigh or jumbo jet, we find Him. Christ comes to us today.
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