It’s been another adventure with my body and mind, another bout of crippling anxiety and exhaustion. Don’t know if it’s stress of even good things or dramatic memories of struggles. My husband and I have had a few years ago around this time whatever it is it’s rattled me and I have clamored to keep a calm that just doesn’t seem to want to stay.
But tonight, the first real snowfall of the season, I take my jacket and my mittens, wrap myself up and step out the door into the night, brisk stroll around my neighborhood. I forget how much I love wandering the wilds of the world, even if there are houses built up in between the patches of land and trees. Finally, for the first time, I understand the silent night and the songs we sing in the coming of our king, how He’s come for me.
In the glow of soft Christmas lights strung across houses, I feel settled in tune with my environment for the first time in weeks. This is balm to my starved soul, the soul that craves the closeness of God.
Emmanuel, God with us, on a silent snowy street on a silent falling snow, quiet where the world is finally wrapped in white winds whipping across my face branches of trees and an elusive calm that is finally here.
Emmanuel, God with us, in the midst of our pain fears are uncertainty. We can be certain of this God, through our first breaths, draws us close.
A little quiet Christmas reflection that sometimes the seasons don’t go as you hope or plan or even expect. But the grace that goes along with the days and weeks is that God meets us right where we are, weary or ready. He has come to set us free from our striving from our sins from our unmet expectations. He enters in where we most need Him to. He knows. He is willing.
Trace my steps back the way I came trying to match my strides before the crunch of snow beneath my boots. Shadow tracks illuminated by the lamp light. Lights wink from the warmth of homes along the sidewalk and I breathe in the freshness of this night.
We can sing it softly into the night joy to our own weary hearts that the Lord provides. It will be OK. Jesus has come. He has brought the world right with His arrival. And we can be sure that He will bring all things to a final alignment again.
Wherever you are this Christmas, know that you can rest, that you can have a silent night, even if only for a few short minutes, knowing that the Light of the world has come to offer us abiding hope, love, and peace.
Leave a Reply
Looking for something in particular?
Explore the archive! Organized for ease by category and year.
Visit the Archive
Add a comment
0 Comments