I am living with the reality that we often have far too much chatter in the world. Those ancient settlers, who built the tower to the heavens on the plain of Shinar (Gn. 11:2), may have caused it. I really don't want to blame them, but it seems their curse has also become ours. There is confusion in the communication, far too many words--far too little listening. We hear those words in predictable presidential debates, endless news feeds, Facebook and Twitter posts, fearful, anger-provoking rhetoric on every side. Sometimes we hear too many words even in church. The silence is just too shallow. We have learned to fill up every silence with our own chatter.
What we really need, I believe, is a silent Christmas this year--one in which we turn off all the technology and listen in wonder for the news that in the quiet our God still speaks. Beyond all the human words that would stake a claim on our hearts and minds, there is another Word that transforms our world. There is a Word that came to us in the beginning and comes to us anew in this very time. This is a Word that brings a new beginning, a word that opens hearts, causes hands to fold in quiet reverence before God, and transforms the way we relate to one another. Beyond our words, there is that Word--eternally present, made flesh with us, full of glory and grace and truth.
My wish and fervent prayer for you is that this will be a quiet Christmas. May the Word be alive as you gather in the darkness to wait and to worship, to light candles, to weep and to hope. May the Word be alive in your Christmas gatherings with family and friends. May there be holy a quiet that descends upon your soul and fills you with confidence and courage and hope.
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us . . . full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14).
Christmas Blessings, My Friends!
Christmas Blessings!
What we really need, I believe, is a silent Christmas this year--one in which we turn off all the technology and listen in wonder for the news that in the quiet our God still speaks. Beyond all the human words that would stake a claim on our hearts and minds, there is another Word that transforms our world. There is a Word that came to us in the beginning and comes to us anew in this very time. This is a Word that brings a new beginning, a word that opens hearts, causes hands to fold in quiet reverence before God, and transforms the way we relate to one another. Beyond our words, there is that Word--eternally present, made flesh with us, full of glory and grace and truth.
My wish and fervent prayer for you is that this will be a quiet Christmas. May the Word be alive as you gather in the darkness to wait and to worship, to light candles, to weep and to hope. May the Word be alive in your Christmas gatherings with family and friends. May there be holy a quiet that descends upon your soul and fills you with confidence and courage and hope.
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us . . . full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14).
Christmas Blessings, My Friends!
Christmas Blessings!
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