Most folks have their favorite. As our celebration of Christmas is now imminent, many find themselves humming them. They may have even become like earworms at this point – but that’s okay. I believe that it’s important to have a song on our lips and in our hearts at Christmas. The hard part is carrying that song with us throughout the New Year beyond December 25th. One of my favorite Christmas songs is probably not even on the list for most folks. Favorite Christmas songs and hymns can transport us back to happy childhood Christmas memories of long ago as well as renew our hope for the future that we see in the children and young people of today. One of my favorites is a Perry Como song. I discovered it on an album that my parents had. That album was a soundtrack of a movie – The Odessa Files. This movie was a thriller released in 1974 based on a novel by the same name. I would have been a bit young for it at the time and maybe my parents went to go see it on one of those Friday nights when my grandfather was babysitting yours truly. Actually, I don’t ever recall seeing it myself. Maybe I should try to find it online and watch it one night over the holidays. It is the song, Christmas Dream that brings back so many memories for me. I remember it being this time of year and sitting on the floor of our little dining room where the stereo was of which my father was so proud. It was kind of a large floor model that he purchased from a co-worker. I remember holding the album cover and listening to the song again and again. The words spoke to me. There was a stanza sung in German by a children’s choir. It reminded me of my heritage and always made me think of family and friends overseas. One verse always had me thinking of Our Lord. It didn’t reference the events of Incarnation and Christmas, but that of the other great mystery that we celebrate in the spring. Du stirbst um zu leben und nimmst um zu geben. You die in order to live and take in order to give. Christmas Dream had me dreaming. It had me dreaming of Christmas Day and Santa and presents. It had me dreaming of snow and sledding and days off school. It had me dreaming of my future and making time and taking time for all kinds of things that I wanted to do and see. It had me thinking about what dying to live and taking to give really meant. It filled me with hope and with happiness. It still does. I suppose that’s why it’s one of my favorites and why I still dream my Christmas dream. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones – and sweet dreams this Christmas and beyond!
Peace!
Fr. Wilson