Life’s Railway to Christmas: Reflections on Journey, Memory, and Meaning
This morning, I awoke with the words of a hymn in my mind. I can remember my mother singing it as she did housework when I was a child. I went to one of my bookcases and found an old hymnal. The hymn Life's Railway to Heaven was on page 200. The publication date was 1896 - one hundred twenty-nine years ago.
My mother’s father worked for Seaboard Railroad, as did his two eldest sons. The hymn would have been most appropriate for a railroad man. It likened our journey through life to that of a journey on a train and what we need to do to make our journey successful. We are cautioned to “watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels” as we travel through life.
What has this to do with Christmas? I wondered that myself. It tells us that our lives are not divided into the religious and the secular, but rather that they are one.
From the top to the bottom of our Christmas tree, various ornaments bring to mind occurrences, real and imagined. On our tree, the secular ornaments such as the pirate, lighthouse, and depot cut-outs represent Amelia Island where I grew up. An ornament from our wedding reception, the angel atop the tree, and the carolers waiting to sing their Christmas hymns emphasize the true meaning. Look at your holiday decorations. What are they telling you?
Wishing you a happy and blessed holiday.
Mary Nolan Brown