Interests:classic books, music, swords, models, puzzles, missions, law, astronomy, politics, acting, guns, free trade, sea animals . . . the list is almost endless Expertise:one-on-one talks with good friends, and hard work (when I'm in the mood) Occupation:Student
Meet Me In Saint Louis may, or may not, be a Christmas movie. I highly doubt that you gather the family to watch it during the season, right after It's A Wonderful Life? But did you ever realize, this ambiguous seasonal film has one of the most classic Christmas songs?
From the moment I watched Judy Garland sing, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," I discovered one of my favorite songs - ever.
Allow me to share some reflections. . . .
"A Merry Little Christmas" spoke to me that year, because I particularly identified with the character. Like Esther, I had undergone some dramatic changes in life. Our family had moved, not to New York, but to California. It was the second move across the country in about as many years. So, there was little wonder that I embraced the line "someday soon we all will be together" as I thought of the friendships broken by distance.
As I listen to the seasonal favorites on the radio this year, I was struck by a change of flavor. When I'm not being hounded by the fifth version of the Little Drummer Boy (I declare, it is everywhere), I hear the "new and improved" version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Perhaps you don't know the difference, because you've only heard the happy-go-lucky Sinatra/Newsong version. It is certainly the more popular. Let me refresh your memory, or give you a bit of trivia.
I hear that the original draft lyrics were perfectly depressing.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, it may be your last,
Next year we may all be living in the past . . . No good times like the olden days, happy golden days of yore, Faithful friends who were dear to us, will be near to us no more.
For those who may suffer seasonal depression, separation, or loneliness, let's just rub salt into the wound eh?
In the film, the lyrics are almost what you are used to hearing.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light Next year all our troubles will be out of sight Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Make the yule-tide gay Next year all our troubles will be miles away Once again as in olden days Happy golden days of yore Faithful friends who were dear to us Will be near to us once more Someday soon, we all will be together If the Fates allow Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
There really isn't much of a change in the latest lyrics. Just that weird line about stars and boughs. What do you call the top of the tree anyway?
Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on our troubles will be out of sight Have yourself a merry little Christmas Make the Yuletide gay From now on our troubles will be miles away Here we are as in olden days Happy golden days of yore Faithful friends who are dear to us Gather near to us once more Through the years we all will be together If the Lord allows Hang a shining star upon the highest bough And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
It is nice, I suppose.
But, that's just it! It is nice, like fake snow, and needle-less trees. I like the movie version, because it is more genuine. It doesn't promise a carefree life topped off with glitter and lights or happily ever after. It's promise is more concrete, and even, I think, Christian.
In the years of empty chairs at bare tables, you can still have a merry Christmas. It is precisely in the "Christmas spirit" to hope for what we do not have. On earth, we must muddle through, with prayer and God's help. People come and go. Loved ones are taken away. Yet, Christ remains. In a sense, He returns each year during Christmas. And with His advent, we have hope. Someday soon, perhaps not this year, but next year, or the year after, or in hereafter there will be reunions and joy without end.
So have yourself a merry little Christmas, now! :)
It has been brought to the author's attention that she has not written in some time.
The author would like to point out that she has had no thoughts to write.
Alright, that is a slight exaggeration.
The author has had many scattered thoughts. She will now attempt to solidify a few.
1) Everyone should see The Blind Side. Why? Because it is an excellent statement of a conservative Christian worldview. Complete with love, marriage, hard work, imperfection, and doubt. I will now proceed to dedicate my life to non-profit work. Leigh Anne Tuohy is my new idol.
2) John Calvin is evil. What do you do with a man whose worldview can be best (if uncharitably) summarized by such a description? Reading selections from the Institutes has definitely been an inspiration. I have begun to think of all kinds of analogies to describe what I think. - Imagine God as a teacher, who knows all His students will fail the test, even though he has presented them all the material . . . so he offers a make up option of personal tutorial, guaranteed a passing grade . . . all the student has to do is show up. - What do you think, helpful?
3) Why did Ann Coulter write Godless: The Church of Liberalism? I mean, she has a lot of good critiques, but who is she trying to convince? As a good conservative, I simply agree with her, or become grossed out and turn her off. If I were a liberal, I would probably form a protest, develop and consensus, and devour her time in trivial lawsuits. I propose that she is writing to my neighbors, those whose worldview and values say they are conservative, but whose culture and heritage say they are Democrats. Question: does one have to describe the sick details of a crime to prove that criminals are bad people? Follow up: what kind of dense does one have to be that the only way to prove the argument is to shock with gory details? (For illustration see Law Abiding Citizen.)
4) When all else is dissatisfying, read Lewis. An Experiment in Criticism is already making me think harder about what and how I think . . . and I've only read the first 15 pages. I think I see his point that one should approach literature with a receptive attitude asking what it has to teach. How would this apply to painting or other material arts? I hypothesize that I will begin to love drawing the same time I discover the answer to this question.
*Some notesl in reply to the question, "Having our children 'own' their theology/worldview and life is important but the handoff is a challenge to us! Any ideas?"
Sinking in? When could you tell that it was sinking in for me, mom?
The development of worldview takes a lifetime. Of course your student isn't "getting it" right now. No one should be expected to sound like a PhD philosophy professor until he has at least had half the experience.
The best you can do for a mother, is affirm that she is doing well. Her son attends class, is usually prepared, engages in the conversation, and has periodic episodes of brilliance. You may both trust that he will eventually learn how to make these things more consistent as he sees the benefit of doing well and the inconvenience of doing poorly.
There is a fine balance between setting the standard of perfection and assessing a reasonable achievement. No one will meet all your hopes or expectations. They may meet 90%, they may meet 50%, or they may completely surprise you by achieving things you had never thought about. But they will never do exactly what you had in mind. Embracing this may seem like lower standards, but it is simply accepting the reality of imperfectability and individuality. It is something for both students and teachers to understand and keep in mind.
If it is the student's job to do everything that the teacher expects, and a little more, and it is the teacher's job to expect all that the student could do, but a little less, then they will both be satisfied at the same point.
How do you make the student do it? If he wants it, he will do it. You can only help him want it. Never underestimate the subtle powers of shame, disappointment, satisfaction, and accomplishment. Make the student truly feel these, and you can change more than his outward actions. You can reform his soul.
If you really believe that you are doing the best for your child, tell him. Tell him all the reasons why. Let him puzzle through them and live to experience them. If you are right, he will eventually agree because truth confirms itself. You just have to have the patience to let him show you.
