How Silently




I have reflected on favorite Christmas songs over the past weeks, but I think my favorite remains “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The part of the song that means the most to me is this verse:

“How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is giv’n.
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin
where meek souls will receive him
still the dear Christ enters in.”

Jesus’s birth was unnoticed and uncelebrated when it happens. In the same way, most of our profound meetings with God, I think, happen in the mundane moments. Jesus met people along the dusty roads and in the gnawing hunger of scraping out an existence. The peace that he brings comes often unseen and so I long to be ready for him, to be seeking him. I love the idea of a silent, quiet moment, but perhaps for so many of us the dear Christ must enter in while we are driving kids to school and activities, while we are carrying out the tasks of our work, when we are loving our families as our children bicker, and as we try to manage a hectic schedule.

Jesus Christ makes changes that are often nearly unnoticed. This is how his work in our lives so often happens. Yet his promise is that when we open our lives to him that he will change us, just as he changed the world. Peace to you today – Merry Christmas.

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