Christmas carols in the most unlikely places

Standing out at an abortion clinic this morning promising prayer and hope for women with children in their womb we began singing hymns. Christmas hymns, to be exact.

Typically, when we sing, we add in prayers for those inside and try to do it all loud enough that it penetrates the glass door and reaches some inside who have a church background and might resonate with some of the words.

“Ever go Christmas caroling outside an abortion clinic?” I quipped to one of the ladies standing next to me. “No,” said one, “never have, and it feels a little strange.”

It did, but I am not sure why. These Christmas songs can pack a spiritual punch, and certain for those considering abortion. Consider “Joy to the World”:

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessing flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.

Or a verse from Charles Wesley’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”:

Come, Desire of nations come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the Woman's conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the Serpent's head.
Adam's likeness now efface:
Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam, from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.

If I know the hearts of the Wesley men like I think I do they would be thrilled to know their Christmas hymn made it through a crack in the door to a woman considering ending the life of her child. Wouldn’t it be grand if women around the world today dealing with crisis pregnancies could here these lines from “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

The best part of my Christmas, I suspect, has already happened. Having a chance to do something typically Christmas in a place that is anti-God, anti-decency, anti-baby, anti-love, is, alas, very "Christmasy" I have learned. My prayer is this: Lord, replicate such moments throughout this Advent season, for your glory. Amen.