Sometimes I wonder if we view the Christmas story as a play first, and as an event in Scripture, second.  After all, how many times have you seen or been involved in one?  It’s difficult to read Luke 2 without memories of someone scrambling for props, drilling lines (“Louder—we can’t hear you in the back!), or getting kids to stand up-sit down-walk here-stop there.  Can you envision it without its human hubbub?

How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given;

So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in.

Often, though, we have to work to find a quiet time at Christmas (if you’re sitting down, you must either be sick or have forgotten to do something).  But at the nativity, there were no caroling CD players near the manger.  Mary wasn’t worried about tripping over extension cords.  Joseph wasn’t scrambling to set up chairs or serve punch to those who arrived early.  They had no program agenda (“OK, Mary, you have 5 min. to have this baby before the shepherds arrive!”).  Just a worried husband, and a weary, uncomfortable wife, wanting a place where they could stop moving.

Silence—what better way to hear the Lord’s still, small voice.