Today's song, while relatively modern, written in the '80s, manages to do something similar. I first encountered this song several years ago, and it didn't make a great impression on me. In fact, I completely forgot about its existence during the interval years. It was only this year, like last year's epiphany with Jesu Sweet and Dear, that this song burst back into my field of sight, and I wondered how I could have missed it this time.
I think part of it was the ensemble who performed it: Glad, a Christian men's a-Capella group formed, I believe, in the '80s and continuing at least to 2015 when I heard them live at the National Bible Bee Convention. They're a brilliant group, and if you aren't familiar already, I'd recommend giving them a listen. However, I'm not a huge lover of their sound when all is said and done. I can take them in small doses, and I have two of their CDs, but after about 30 minutes I'm ready to move onto something whose harmonies aren't so crunchy.
That being said, in small doses, I do think Glad is good fun, and this song very perfectly captures a lot of what I imagine must have been running through Mary and Joseph's minds during the months leading up to Jesus' birth. Many of us don't think about what they had to go through to get to this point, and even afterwards. In my teen years, I confess, I often contemplated just how dreadful it would have been to be Mary trying to explain things to Joseph.
I can only imagine what Joseph might have felt. All in all, they were two brave, godly people and God used them both mightily in one of the most crucial(ahem, pardon the pun) parts of His salvific plan. I may not have wanted to be Mary but I am more than grateful that such a noble young woman as Mary existed. When you consider what it is that she was consenting to, it is a wonder that she should say simply, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word."
And in one moment, every nefarious attempt the serpent of old had made to wipe out the line of David, to destroy the seed of the woman that was to crush his head, was foiled.
And Joseph, when the angel appeared to him and told him that Mary's pregnancy was from God, could still have found a way out, could have shied away from the weight of responsibility, from the son who would be his in name if not in blood, but in a quiet acceptance he did not hesitate to embrace Mary and take her as his wife, though he did not consummate that marriage until after Jesus was born. Think of it! No wonder Matthew calls him a righteous man.
That's what I think of when I listen to today's carol, "One Quiet Moment." It makes me cry, almost every time. (Also, take note of this historic moment, this is perhaps the first and last time, you will ever see words by Bob Kauflin being applauded on this blog...yes, you read that right, the words are by him. Shocking, I know...but even Nathaniel, though dubious that anything good could come out of Nazareth, followed Philip's invitation to come and see. I, too, invite you to come and hear. ;) )
In the star-clustered night
Two weary travelers
Knew an end was in sight
So the soon-to-be mother
Grasped her husband's strong hand
And paused to remember
Where their journey began
Nine months of yearning
Filled with joy and with pain
He almost had left her
But then chose to remain
Close by the woman
He had not even kissed
Who would bear him a Son
That would nevеr be his
And in one quiet momеnt
A woman and man
Accepted the part
They would have in God's plan
To give up His glory
And be born as a man
In one quiet moment
They would spend with their Son
Taking walks through the hillsides
And watching Him run
And some days, the fingers
That had fashioned the stars
Would reach out to hold them
When the walk was too far
They wrestled with knowing
That His life would bring change
Their friends would grow distant
And shun them as strange
Though they tried not to think it
In their hearts they were sure
That their baby was destined
To die for the world.
And in one quiet moment
A woman and man
Accepted the part
They would have in God's plan
To give up His glory
And be born as a man
In one quiet moment.
Thousands of angels
Singing so clear
"Glory to God!
His salvation is near"
In this one quiet moment
In this one quiet moment
One quiet moment.
1 comments:
“One moment of surrender to God's plan was all that was needed. He took care of the details. It's a lesson for all of us, I think!” So true! Our words and actions have eternal repercussions!
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