Family visit

Luke 2:15-20

          And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

         And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

         But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

         The shepherds returned to the fields, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

It was quiet on the highways as we drove to visit family early on Christmas afternoon.  Margaret said she had read that 81% of us were not traveling today.  But as we drove home in the evening, it was obvious that life was gearing up again.  Lots more trucks on the road.  The shepherds returned to the field, and we return to work – very quickly back to rat races and stressful life in fast lanes.

We stopped and got out of our car at Mom’s house, several miles away from big highways and city lights.  I looked up.  The stars blew up the sky.  Constellations were clear and sharp.  The air was cold and completely soundless.  Standing there in this awesome dark, nothing cried out to be done – no hurry, no rush, all the time we need.  I could just stand here awhile and look up.

Can I rest this morning with the quiet inside me?  As the angels are once again silent, can I find my own silence to carry along into December 26?  God does not stop breathing … listen for it:

This air of yours, Lord, is precious and rare.  Breathing in and breathing out, I look for ways to say yes to you today.  Always yes.        

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