“Believe” is the latest song I’ve learned in my Piano Puttering journey. It comes from the movie “Polar Express,” the story of a boy struggling to Believe in spite of the influence of the doubts of others. His struggle is symbolized by the the Bells on Santa’s sleigh that supposedly do not exist. The Polar Express train shows up takes him on a journey to the North Pole where Santa will deliver the first Christmas gift to a specially selected child. The trip allays all the doubts he was having.
Or does it?
Was it all a dream, a childhood fantasy?
Do Santa’s sleigh bells stop ringing the day after our last Christmas as a child and we grow up into although with all its practical considerations?
Or is it that their sweet sound is only hearable to those who truly believe?
To find out, read the book or watch the movie. (Or watch my video! 😀)
The lyrics to this song are so beatiful and profound I couldn’t resist including them in my video.
But I had a problem.
The story is so meaningful and relevant I just had to include it too.
What to do… what to do…
For help with my decision, I was inspired by this season of contemplating on the Babe born in the manger and whether to believe on Him or not. The story of King Solomon and his wisdom concerning a disputed baby came to mind. I’m relying on that wisdom.
And thus the double whammy on this video. Rather than split my baby in half, I’m keeping it together — both lyrics and story plot — and giving it to you to do with as you please.
This video merits watching twice… once to focus on the lyrics… once to focus on the story.
And of course I wouldn’t minds it if you listened a third time to focus on my piano playing! 😄 In fact, it would mean a lot to me!
If you listen close, you might also notice that I cheated with a little bit of patchwork. Somehow I totally skipped a line in one of the verses and didn’t realize it until I was tweaking the lyrics. I didn’t have time to re-record it — or even record just that musical phrase to splice in — so I copied it from a place where it was repeated and pasted it in. Can you find the spot where I edited it in?
Lastly, I think much of the appeal of the myth Santa Claus has become is from its metaphor to God the Father, Someone who we cannot see but yet provides all that we need. Since we can see His works but we cannot see Him, we must make a decision whether we believe in Him or not.
How about you?
Do you hear what I hear?
When the bell shakes, can you hear it’s sweet tone like I can, and as all who truly believe can?
When you see the snow driven by the wind, can you see The Hand of the One who created it all?
Do you Believe?
God bless and Merry CHRISTmas!
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James Clark -- The Next Iteration 