"Not alone in the dark"

[browngirl]

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, and I hope everyone has as lovely a day as possible today. (I mean, I wish that every day, but it's certainly appropriate to say today.)



The Atheist Christmas Carol by Vienna Teng

It's the season of grace coming out of the void
Where a man is saved by a voice in the distance
It's the season of possible miracle cures
Where hope is currency and death is not the last unknown
Where time begins to fade
And age is welcome home

It's the season of eyes meeting over the noise
And holding fast with sharp realization
It's the season of cold making warmth a divine intervention
You are safe here you know now

Don't forget
Don't forget I love
I love
I love you

It's the season of scars and of wounds in the heart
Of feeling the full weight of our burdens
It's the season of bowing our heads in the wind
And knowing we are not alone in fear
Not alone in the dark


A friend sent me this song, and it spoke to my heart this holiday season. I don't think I have the necessary certainty to be an atheist, but my spirituality has always been much more concerned with my fellow people than with those who may or may not be Above us. I left the religion of my birth because of what I felt I had to do to my fellow humans to follow what I was taught and how much I didn't want to do those things, not because of theological questions.

I wanted to post something today to please everyone (which is impossible, of course, but that doesn't mean I don't want it down where more sensible people want ponies) and I fear this might please no one. I know it could be said that the very term 'atheist Christmas carol' is an oxymoron because Christmas is a Christian holiday; one could argue with much the same logical progressions that this song is disguised evangelism or a self-deluding attempt to arrogate a part of an indivisible religion. And as ever I'm sure there are possible objections I can't even imagine.

But none of those are what I got out of this song, what I want to further by posting it. "It's the season of grace coming out of the void," it sings to me. "We are not alone in fear, not alone in the dark." The universe is vast and indifferent, bright and chill; we people are few and warm, small but together.

So, however I might phrase it, I wish you warmth and happiness, and hold my hands out to you, this Christmas day and all days.

Comments

[jenny_evergreen]

*hug* Love you.

[mtgat]

:) I absolutely love this song, and the hope it shares.

*hugs*

Happy sunrise. :)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

It is a beautiful message.

[dsudis.livejournal.com]

I love this song a lot. (alot, even!) I made it the last track on the mix CDs which were the only presents my brothers and sisters-in-law and I exchanged this year!

[solvent90.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thank you; what a beautiful carol. Yes, exactly that.

[karenhealey.livejournal.com]

Aw, love this, Vienna Teng, and you.

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

I bring you good news of great joy-- there are probablilistic atheists who say mildly, "On the whole, I think not."

And how interesting that you were the Huck Finn of your religious upbringing. :)

*love*

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

*loves to you*

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

*hug*

[capra-maritimus.livejournal.com]

*huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugs*

Thank you for this. :D

[tibicina.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's really pretty.

*hugs*

[boosette.livejournal.com]

Also, it is nearly impossible to not find Vienna Teng's voice absolutely lovely.


*smushes you* :)

[ceo]

*big hugs*

And thank you for the lovely surprise that showed up in the mail yesterday!

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

Methinks I need to find Ms. Teng's music. Since wow, is this speaking to my heart. Grace coming out of the void, indeed.

Thanks! (And Merry Christmas.)

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Happy Boxing Day!

hi, friend of trinker's

[sajia.livejournal.com]

I'm a Muslim who had my first wonderful Christmas in Canada in 8 years this past December and I think this is a wonderful spiritual song - spiritual in the sense of openness, not in the sense of consumer fakery that's co-opted New Age spirituality. I'm actually thinking of recording a Christmas album (hey, if Low and Tori Amos can do it, so can I) although it'll have to wait a couple of years. I might actually want to cover this song. Have a wonderful 2011.

Re: hi, friend of trinker's

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Hi! Thank you so much for this note! I'm willing to wager Ms. Teng will be delighted, and I already am.