Last night I dug out one of our Christmas cds. We have quite a collection because when I was managing a store over Christmas I wanted good carols over the P.A. so I went a got some better cds to listen to. (They're repetitive enough without having really bad ones.)
Anyway Dad wanted the cd because he has a Christmas supper for people at his work. So I found the
Spirit of Christmas 2003 cd that we got from Myers. I was listening to one song in particular this morning. The song is called
The Man With The Bag by the Ruldolphs feat. Dannielle Gaha.
He'll be here with the answer to the prayers
That you've made through the year
You'll get yours
If you've done everything you should
Extra special good
Old Mr Cringle
Is soon gonna jingle
The bells that'll tingle
All your troubles away
Everybody's waiting for the man with the bag
Christmas is coming' again
He's got a sleigh full
It's not gonna stay full
He's got stuff to drop
At every stop of the way
Everybody's waiting for the man with the bag
Christmas is coming' again
He'll be here with the answer to the prayers
That you've made through
the year
You'll get yours
If you've done everything you should
Extra special good
He'll make this December
The one to remember
The best and merriest
You ever did have
Everybody's waiting for the man with the bag
Christmas is comin' again
Everybody's waitin'
They are all Congregatin'
Waitin' for the man with the bag
Better watch out now
It's my favourite song on the album. Despite the lyrics. Usually I prefer the Christmas Hymns to
Jingle Bells or the like. I think I like the tune of this one. It's a little bit swinging. Plus it's a good range for me to sing! :)
Anyway while listening to this song I was thinking about how bits of it could apply to Jesus and how other are completely the opposite. The whole waiting aspect can apply to Advent and the birth of Jesus. However the chorus.
He'll be here with the answer to your prayers ... etc. When I first heard it I was annoyed at the implication that Santa answers prayers but now I'm focused on the timing of answering prayers. When Santa is answering our prayer he does so with a present once at Christmas time. One day a year. He's only around and answering our prayers one day of three hundred and sixty-five/sixty-six. God has that job 24/7, 365/366 days a year.
Also Santa gives us what we want (well, that's what happens in all the stories anyway!) God answers our prayers with what is best for us. Maybe that's not as fun but it's definitely better in the long run.
Similarly "Mr Cringle" is supposed to 'jingle all our troubles away'. Sounds lovely doesn't it? But what are we without our troubles? As much as they suck, troubles are catalyst for our growth. So, would I rather have them go away or have someone who loves me promising to be with me through said troubles? As it says in Matt 28:20b
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" and Matt 11:28
"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Or the often quoted
Footprints poem by Mary Stevenson.
The other thing is the reference to being good.
You'll get yours, If you've done everything your should, Extra special good. That's great and how the world sees things. You earn things. I agree, that's fair. However we know the great thing about God is that we didn't earn His grace, we could never do enough to earn His grace. He gives it to us, undeserving as we are, with no conditions attached. All we have to do is accept it. I think that's something I tend to get used to hearing, so reminding myself of that fact is a good idea!
Really I'm just taking a simple Christmas carol a little too seriously! But I'm a fan of exploring things that make you think and this fell into that category. So, I'll be listening to this song and enjoying it while thinking about God's love, grace and generosity.
