Do You See What I See? (Fusion Advent 2023)

I have always loved the song Do You Hear What I Hear, however, I will be the first to admit I don’t know every single word. I decide to search it up. I take a sip of my coffee and I can’t just read the words of the song, I have to sing it.

I start singing.

Said the night wind to the little lambDo you see what I see?(Do you see what I see?)Way up in the sky, little lambDo you see what I see?(Do you see what I see?)A star, a star, dancing in the nightWith a tail as big as a kiteWith a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boyDo you hear what I hear?(Do you hear what I hear?)Ringing through the sky, shepherd boyDo you hear what I hear?(Do you hear what I hear?)

A song, a song high above the treesWith a voice as big as the seaWith a voice as big as the sea

When singing this part of the song, I think of a vast, blue sky in the dark night with twinkling lights. It brings about almost a magical, maybe haunting feeling. And I love the idea of everyone experiencing the anticipation of the birth of baby Jesus. The symbol of a hopeful future. A song, a sound an anticipation that will echo throughout the land on Christmas Eve night!  Baby Jesus has been born! Halleluiah! Gather the masses. Spread the incredible news! Our Saviour has been born! This is what Christmas is all about! I take another sip of my coffee and continue to sing.

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty kingDo you know what I know? (Do you know what I know?)In your palace warm, mighty kingDo you know what I know? (Do you know what I know?)

A Child, a Child shivers in the coldLet us bring him silver and goldLet us bring him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhereListen to what I say! (Listen to what I say!)Pray for peace, people, everywhereListen to what I say! (Listen to what I say!)The Child, the Child sleeping in the nightHe will bring us goodness and lightHe will bring us goodness and light

The 3^rd verse is the one that really gets to me. I couldn’t sing past the part that says, “A child, a child shivers in the night.” I got up, went to the kitchen, grabbed a handful of peanuts and went and sat back down with my computer and blanket. I pondered what struck me about that line in the song. And I realized, perhaps I feel this way because I am a CASA here in Mitchell. And this time of year, is the hardest time of year for many children. Children who are in between homes, away from their loved ones and have no idea what their future will entail. Some children, rather than hoping for presents they are just praying for their next meal. And then the question, do you know what I know? As if in answer, we hear the echo. And I would like to think we are singing it as “Yes, I think I know what you know. . . But, will you remind me?” Our Saviour is born! Our future is hopeful! Jesus has brought us together! We are no longer alone. We no longer as a people fear we will be shivering in the night. Or do we? I take a sip of coffee.

Is this song calling us to do a little extra this season? Is it calling me to do a little extra this season?  As they brought silver and gold, what am I bringing? What are we bringing? Is there anything more peaceful than thinking a child has found a warm, safe place to sleep during the night? And that same child is dreaming only of goodness and light?

Goodness and light can come in many forms, it can come in going to the Abbott House and playing board games. It can come in going to McCrossan Boys Ranch and just volunteering to sit with a young man and hear his story. It can come from writing a letter to a child in your life on how they have transformed your life as a parent or a grandparent. It can come as going through your closets and donating mittens/hats/coats you no longer use.  It can come as volunteering to read at the library, or volunteer as a Mentor Mom for young parents, volunteer for Big Friend, Little Friend or CASA. Notice these activities don’t require any money. They do, however, require us to be brave, to step out of our box, and to give of our time.

My prayer this season is for all children to know they are loved and to know someone out here is praying for them and fighting for them. My prayer is that at night, they can remember at least one moment of goodness and light that day. I pray they can experience a peace in knowing their beautiful, bright future is already written in the stars by our Savior who started in the same place we all did, as a beautiful baby.