Silent night, holy night/All is calm, all is bright

'Round yon virgin Mother and Child/Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace/Sleep in heavenly peace

It has been easy for me to slip into a new sleeping pattern this year. In college I scheduled my classes in such a way that I could use the wee hours of the night for studying, because I found it hard to concentrate in my dorm with all the noise during the day. Several years later I fell into the same pattern when we had babies and toddlers: I needed the silence and the stillness after everyone else was tucked into bed to recharge. It’s been a slower transition this time, but after nine months of constant togetherness with the fam I’m finding myself awake later than I would be normally, and for the same reasons as I’ve kept late hours in other seasons of my life. I used to call my late night hours “vampiric,'' but lately I’ve been finding that for me, these quiet hours at night are life-giving...the very opposite of anything having to do with vampires.

There’s just something about a silent night.

Silent night, holy night!/Shepherds quake at the sight!

Glories stream from heaven afar;/Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!

Christ the Savior is born!/Christ the Savior is born!

The physical stillness of my surroundings allows me to be more attuned to the Father, whether He chooses to speak to me through literal angels as He did with the shepherds or via a still small voice in the quiet of night. Is it the same for you? 

Singing Silent Night at the end of the Christmas Eve service is one of my favorite holiday traditions. It matters not if there are still gifts to wrap or cookies to bake at home; everyone lights their candle and sings the familiar carol in the stillness of a dark sanctuary. (I’m especially looking forward to singing it outdoors this year under the big top!) There’s a palpable reverence that falls when the candles are lit and the voices join together. Everything else fades away for a few minutes, and the truest meaning of the holiday is illuminated.

Silent night, holy night/Son of God, oh, 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

I don’t think it happenstance that baby Jesus arrived in the stillness of night. When do you hear God best? Do you prefer the stillness of the overnight hours, the equally tranquil sunrise, or sunset? Maybe you hear Him best when your body is moving instead of being still. Wherever you hear Him best, carve time out of this busy holiday week to meet Him there. Blessings on you, friends!