Christmas preparations end as arrival of ‘guest’ nears

On this day before Christmas, we rise up singing to the top of our lungs, “People, Look East,” a French carol written by Eleanor Farjeon that expresses the glorious anticipation of tomorrow.

“People, look East. The time is near of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able. Trim the hearth and set the table. People, look East and sing today: Love, the guest, is on the way.

“Furrows, be glad, though earth is bare. One more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish. That in course the flow’r may flourish. People, look East and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way.

“Stars, keep the watch when night is dim. One more light the bowl shall brim. Shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together. People, look East and sing today: Love, the star, is on the way.

“Angels, announce on this great feast, Him who cometh from the East. Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming. People, look East and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.”

We are awakened suddenly this morning with a sense of urgency. The real preparation, the one depicted in the carol – and the focus of Advent for those of the Christian faith – culminates today and throughout the Christmas Eve vigil.

All of the other preparations are complete: the tree lighted, the gifts wrapped, the wreaths hung, the cards sent, the cakes baked, the stockings tacked, the turkey stuffed. We’ve done as the song says, made our house fair, trimmed the hearth, set the table.

It’s been going on for weeks as we’ve scurried in and out of stores, checked lists, tied bows, mailed boxes, draped tinsel and frosted cookies … all the while, jumping out of our skin with excitement at the countdown for the arrival of family and friends.

And now, quietly and reverently, it dawns on us just as the morning itself: There is this final preparation as we await the “guest” who is on the way, the “rose” who is on the way, the “star” who is on the way.

Tomorrow morning we will belt out a joyous rendition of “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” But today we are looking east. We are singing and humming with the word that “Love, the Lord, is on the way.”