Naked Man Moleskin

There’s a song I heard the other day. An old song written 3 decades ago. It comes from the gooey Contemporary Christian genre, written by the man who just about defines that category himself, Michael W. Smith.

But it’s his first Christmas album. It’s actually still a pretty powerful Christmas album for having originated in that genre, in the 80s. I recommend taking the rest of his stuff with a grain a salt.

But this particular song struck hard. Let me read the words:

All is well all is well
Angels and men rejoice
For tonight darkness fell
Into the dawn of love’s light
Sing Ale
Sing Alleluia
All is well all is well
Let there be peace on earth
Christ’s come go and tell
That He is in the manger
Sing Ale
Sing Alleluia
All is well all is well
Lift up your voices and sing
Born is now Emmanuel
Born is our Lord and Savior
Sing Alleluia
Sing Alleluia
All is well
Born is now Emmanuel
Born is our Lord and Savior
Sing Alleluia
Sing Alleluia
All is well

I can honestly say it took me a second to get over my bitterness at hearing this. Because so much is Not Well right now. But put yourself in the shoes off Mary and Joseph, and I imagine the world felt pretty upside down for them to. Angels visiting, whispered scandals because of virgin pregnancies, traveling to different towns while very pregnant, can’t find anywhere to stay, giving birth in a muddy, shit filled stable, and now a young mom and dad by themselves, probably cold, alone, with a new born. Despite strangers showing up saying your baby is the Messiah, I’m sure it didn’t feel like All is Well.

But it’s such a powerful reminder that God’s view is much bigger and grander than our myopic perspective on the here and now, based largely on how we feel in this moment. He has a plan, and the miraculous birth of his Son proves it’s in motion. So all is well because God still loves us, has sent his Son for us, and we just gotta trust Him despite what we feel and see and hear today.

All is Well.