Once Upon a Midnight Clear is especially special to me. While never the point of LED visuals, I often try to find abstract and subtle ways to tell a story. This song has a poem tied to it that tells humanity’s story and I tried to tell that same story through these visuals. And while no one might recognize it, I like that it does tell this story. And perhaps, if done right, the audience can feel if, even if not understanding.

In the Bible, an archway can be seen as a gateway presence to the Father. And the number seven means the number of completion, the number of perfection, the number of God, the creator. So these visuals contain seven arches to represent that connection to the Father. The tree’s represent humanity; the created. The number six represents the incomplete, the fallen world, sin, and humanity. So there are six tree’s representing us. And on the top LED, there is a crystal star. This is the representation of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

During the song, the arches and tree’s start together. They are colored white, and ‘dancing’ together. This is the world before sin. Humanity and God united together. However, humanity chooses to rebel against God. These tree’s turn red, and the arches fade away. We are now alone, separated from the father because of our actions. This leads to our fallen world. These tree’s struggle, fight, and are in darkness alone. However, God in his mercy decides to save us from our sin that we chose. This is represented as the arches coming in, with a heavenly glow that comes from the top to the bottom. Now the star at the top turns red, and fades. After this the tree’s one by one become white. This represents God taking on our sin through His son. Our sin is transferred to Him, like the tree’s red is transferred to the star. And after His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus is resurrected. Defeating sin and death, and offering this new life to us who decided to follow Him. This is represented as the star coming back, with the arches, and the tree’s all together again. United, white as snow clean, with the Father, together. This will be the new heaven and earth together.

The point of the visuals is not to tell a story, it’s to create an atmosphere of worship. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t tell a story. I’m proud the environment these visuals were able to be a part of, but also the story they tell.