Like many of you, “Silent Night” is one of my favorite Christmas carols. Its melody and message combine to touch our hearts and paint a beautiful image. At Christmas it encourages us to reflect, appreciate, and worship. I was reminded of that last night…by frogs.
After raining off and on most of the day and evening, the frogs were doing what they do after it rains – they were croaking. They love rain, especially at night. The cooler, moist environment is to their liking for many reasons and they celebrate with a chorus of loud croaking much like a large choir singing Handel’s “Messiah.”
Last night their choir was larger than normal and their concert lasted until morning. At one point during the night I lay in bed awake and listening to their song, when suddenly there was silence. They stopped singing, as if in unison they needed to catch their breath. After a moment of silence, one single croak was quickly followed by the full choir and the concert continued.
I lay in bed feeling a brief moment of peace during that brief moment of silence. I thought about “Silent Night” and our Christmas Eve service.
Life is often hectic and loud and busy, like the croaking choir I heard throughout the night. At Christmas the noise is beautiful, but even louder. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with our going from home to home, cooking, opening gifts, watching movies and doing other traditional things, can feel very hectic and busy and loud. So many wonderful and good things grab out attention, making it difficult to have moments of reflection, appreciation, and worship. Somehow Jesus gets lost in it all.
That is why I love our Christmas Eve service and returned from KY to be with our Family of Faith tonight. It is that brief moment of silence when Jesus is front and center. For one hour, the croaking noise of life and Christmas activity stops and we rest in the presence of our God. We experience His peace. When we end the service by singing “Silent Night” and lighting our candles, we have remembered the true message of Christmas.
Our Christmas Eve service is my moment when “Silent Night” becomes more than a song. I’m grateful the frogs reminded me of that last night. I pray you have such a moment this Christmas. The service begins at 5:00 pm today.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Steve Hogg
Linda Herring says
Great. Message at the service.Loved the rubic cube demo and analogy.Merry Christmas!