Remembering "the least of these ..."

Author's Note: I used these lyrics, penned by contemporary Christian artist Randy Stonehill, in this space before. I hope you don't mind me using them again. I think they give us a look into a side of life many of us are unfamiliar with - and how others may be spending their holidays. BGS

Christmas At Denny's

They got Christmas Muzak piped in through the ceiling ...

and the refills of coffee are always for free.

And the waitress on graveyard and the surly night manager ...

are wishing that all of us losers would leave.

There's a star on the sign at the Texaco Station

like the star long ago on that midnight clear.

As I look all around at these cold, empty faces ...

I doubt that you'd find many wise men here.

And I'm dreaming about a silent night ... holy night ...

when things were alright.

And I'm dreaming about how my life could have been ...

if only, if only, if only.

But somewhere down the road I gave up that fight.

Merry Christmas ... it's Christmas at Denny's tonight.

Once I had a home and a wife and a daughter ...

had a company job earning middle-class pay.

Then Lisa got killed by a car near the schoolyard

and my wife started drinking just to get through each day.

I will never forget that little red wagon turning to rust all alone in the rain.

One morning I flagged down a truck on the highway ...

I just couldn't bear to go back there again.

And I'm dreaming about a silent night ... holy night ...

when things were alright.

And I'm dreaming about how my life could have been ...

if only, if only, if only.

Well, it's not just the blind man who loses his sight.

Merry Christmas ... it's Christmas at Denny's tonight.

They say life's made of cruel circumstance ...

fate plays the tune and we dance ...

dance til we drop in the dust and we're gone ...

and the world just goes on.

The cop at the counter - he's the guardian angel.

He watches these orphans through dark mirrored shades.

And the register rings like a bell sadly tolling ...

for the fools we've become and the price that we paid.

Oh when I was a boy I believed in Christmas ...

miracle season to make a new start.

I don't need no miracle, sweet baby Jesus,

just help me find some kind of hope in my heart.

And I'm dreaming about a silent night .... holy night ...

when things were alright.

And I'm dreaming about how my life could have been ...

if only, if only, if only.

But I'll still be here at the morning's first light.

Merry Christmas ... it's Christmas at Denny's tonight.