A good
friend shared that when Christmas Day arrives he simply wants to be alone.
Nothing personal he says, “you know what I mean.” During the months and days
before Christmas, he works with people designing and responding to customer
requests for
his special holiday gift. A gifted designer, the pace is hectic and the rewards
are few except when someone expresses their satisfaction with his extraordinary
designs.
Despite
the complements, he simply prefers time to be alone away from the noise of the
holiday clatter. He appreciates his loyal fans that beg him to create another
treat and the accolades by his fellow workers are sincere, but he needs the silence to get his heart and soul back in place with
the season that promises peace on earth.
The
final days leading up to Christmas are filled with tradition that leaves many
of us physically and mentally drained. So I thought I take all my Sonshine
Friends on a brief journey for a walk in the woods. Oh, it not very colorful
this time of year, but the silence and mood as one moves across the rocks and
stream can help to slow ourselves down. We need to be careful not to trip on a
rock or fall into the water, for it can be slippy at times. But as you move gently
along this path whose purpose is not to get to the any destination, but allow the silence to restore our aching spirits that has been drained by
the demands of the season.
Review this image below and stop to look around. There’s no hurry, take your time and
notice the little things in the stream, the mosses, the rocks, the lichens and
the leaves. They are truly breath-taking if you know what I mean. God is here
waiting for you. God is
calling us to rest and calm ourselves down to experience the peace of Christmas
night. You only need top surrender all the noise from the past months that keep
plaguing us to buy happiness. You know there’s no such thing.
Our
Savior knows how hard we have been working this year to make ends meet, The
Prince of Peace understands the irritations that make us
cringe. In
this walk, let the silence calm your senses and bring you
relief from the pressures of this holiday.
This
won’t take long, a minute, whatever you can spare to get
away from your desk, out of the barn and journey into a realm that offers a
peace that no one can take away from you. When you had enough of holiday
trivial and frivolous activities, come with me now into the forest and find
your strength in the newborn Christ who welcomes us with opens arms to find
peace of mind and a good heart.
