finding peace

His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

i find it somewhat ironic that this is the Advent post i didn't get to on time. it seems this time of year is anything but peaceful, what with all the running around, the extra holiday activities, the preparations. we all seem to have these lists of things to do & places to go that exceeds the amount of time available between Thanksgiving and Christmas. we are pulled in a hundred different directions. we are scattered & busy & rushing. our days our hectic, our nights full. the *last* thing we think of is peace.

i have to think that the town of Bethlehem, just before the birth of Jesus, was a lot like that. the census was bringing even more people to what, i imagine, was already a busy city. all the additional travelers would have added to the already busy city atmosphere. Bethlehem was bustling. noisy. bursting at the seams. so much so that the inns were full. absolutely packed to the rafters. things were certainly not peaceful.

once Bethlehem settled down for the night, to sleep, resting for the next day, when the streets would again be full, things would have been still & peaceful. quiet. slumbering.

if you've ever been up in the middle of the night, by yourself, you know what i am picturing. utter silence. that stillness that happens in the wee hours of morning when the world sleeps. that is about the most peaceful time i can think of.

as Bethlehem lay sleeping, it missed the world changing forever. all that hustle & bustle wore out all those people, and they were not awake when the Christ child entered the world. they missed it.

it made me think about how we rush around before Christmas. we run ourselves ragged with activity. and if we're not careful, we'll miss it too. maybe not the actual day, but the *meaning* of it all. the "why" we celebrate can get lost in the details & the lists & the places we "have" to be. we run around & we miss those moments of true peace.

i was so happy when i finally spent Saturday evening, just laying on my couch, looking at my Christmas tree, with all the other lights off. we have to make time to experience that elusive peace that can so easily get lost in the shuffle. i'm telling you, is there anything in this world more peaceful than laying on your couch, looking at your version of this, and thinking about why we celebrate Christmas in the first place?

and when you take the time to truly enjoy this season, to sit down & just soak in the beauty around you, isn't that when you really feel peaceful?

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
("O Little Town of Bethlehem," Words: Phillips Brooks, 1867.
Music: Lewis H. Redner, 1868.)