The Wonder of It All

Nothing puts my heart in proper Christmas perspective as does hearing Mannheim Steamroller’s “Stille Nacht“.  Always a beautiful song of the season, “Silent Night” has been arranged in so many different ways – but this version always reduces me to tears:  When the fullness of time had come (the gong of the grandfather clock), the God of all creation came to earth as a tiny Baby (the playing of the toy piano), through an act of His powerful Spirit (the sound of the mighty rushing wind).

Waiting, working, caught up in the hectic pace we’ve made of this Birthday celebration, I’m so easily distracted. I wonder why I’ve allowed myself to become consumed by consumerism; taking what used to be a time of love and joy, and making it into a season of chores to check off a list (that never seems to end).  Little by little I’ve allowed wrong attitudes to chip away at the intentions behind my rushed activities until they’re nothing more than things on a list I have to get done…

Until I hear again “Silent Night” and all becomes calm and bright ‘round the virgin mother and Child…

Until I again worship the newborn King, whom the angels proclaimed to the shepherds…

Until I join the wise men, led by a star to the place where He was born, in awe of the purpose for which He came…

Redemption.  Salvation.  Life.  (Not what we humans have made it, but Real Life.) 

Joy; full joy.  Forgiveness.  Peace.  

Lord, I bow and worship with awe-filled wonder as You fill my heart…every part of this world…with Your redeeming grace.  Help me to be still and live in the wonder of it all!

Silent Night!  Holy Night! Son of God, Love’s pure light, Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face, With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.