Christmas Eve
Not much to say this morning. Arrived at the usual time at Starbucks. Heather and Keith were behind the counter. Christmas greetings were exchanged and my cup of coffee was served. Tony had arrived before me and was seated with his laptop in place, already working. There was no one else around. Tony and I chatted for a few minutes. The conversation was about his experience of Christmas growing up in a Ukrainian Orthodox community. For Tony the Christmas story was conveyed by participating in the collective worship liturgy at church.
A few days ago I was present at Vernon Hills High School for the annual Christmas musical presentation by the orchestra and several show choirs. It was a divine evening of unspeakable musical enjoyment. I wonder if Arthur Schopenhauer was right that music, of all the art forms, mediates directly the very force that was involved in Creation? Sometimes it seems so.
The evening at Vernon Hills High School was culminated by a presentation of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. The performance was lead by the conductor of the orchestra. Audience members were invited the join the choirs which provided the vocals. The concluding performance was rapturous. The thought came to me that perhaps nothing of like quality, no other story reflecting upon the Christ-event of similar caliber has been conceived since. George Frideric Handel composed this piece in 1741.
I will say it aloud, once again: Only the story matters.
Enjoy this YouTube rendition. And Merry Christmas!
