Finding Silence

   I love the quiet times; they are such a blessing.  In the serenity of such times is the opportunity to be with God in a most personal way, just me and my Lord.  Sadly, silence is harder and harder to find.

   Especially at this time of year with the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas, silence is even harder to find.  Our life seems to be filled with so many demands that there is no time to simply sit in solitude with the Lord.  And yet, being with Him is what is most important.

   I’ve often thought about the Christmas carol, “Silent Night” and wished there could be more quiet times as we prepare to welcome the birth of our Savior.  But I wonder – was the night of His birth really a silent night?  As I read St. Luke’s account of that night it seems there was a lot of activity rather than so much silence.

   Angels appeared to shepherds proclaiming the birth of the Lord.  The shepherds went to the stable where Jesus lay to see this miracle the angels had told them of.  Along came the Magi, perhaps kings from the middle east, to present gifts to the new-born king.  It sounds as though Mary and Joseph would have probably needed a bit of silence that night, time to comprehend the incredible miracle they had been called to be a part of; to simply gaze upon their precious child and Savior.

   We too spend far too much time with all that Christmas has come to involve.  There are so many things that detract us from why we are to be celebrating.  The infant Savior desires only one gift, our love.  If we take the time to just sit and contemplate His birth and life and all the blessings He has given us we can perhaps have that “Silent Night” with the Lord.