I
have always loved the hymn “Ring Out Wild Bells” which is in our current
Latter-day Saint hymnal. It is based on
one of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s 131 short poems in a longer work titled “In
Memoriam”. Tennyson wrote the long poem
over a period of 14 years as he worked through the grief of losing his close
friend who died when they were in their early 20’s.
Tennyson
sometimes referred to his own long poem by the subtitle, “The Progress of the
Soul,” because it describes the steps by which his intense personal grief
finally brought him to greater compassion and spiritual sensitivity.
“Ring
Out Wild Bells”, was one of the poems from this long work mentioned above. Tennyson was determined to leave behind the
disappointment and narrow vision of the grief-filled past he had been living
in. This phrase from the poem “the
larger heart, the kindlier hand,” indicates his ability to finally reach
outward to others and extend himself in good works to those around him.
One
of the reasons I like this particular hymn is that it is written in a minor key
which, in a way, reflects Tennyson’s sadness and sorrow. But the final line of the hymn, “Ring in
the Christ that is to be,” asks us to rise to the full stature of Christ
within ourselves as the very last note of the hymn ends in a major key.
I
just find that positive ending such an uplift in a new year with fresh
prospects and opportunities to do greater things and to be
better people as we become the light that draws other people to
Christ through our example.
I
invite you, and me also, to make this verse from Matthew one of our goals for
2026.
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
HAPPY NEW YEAR
2026 !
Note: Alfred, Lord Tennyson is probably the best known of the English Victorian poets in the 1800’s. We readily recognize this famous quote of his which is also from the same poem “In Memoriam”.
”Tis better to have loved and lost than
never to have loved at all.”
