Silence

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas.  New Year's is right around the corner!!! I am looking forward to saying goodbye to 2010.

My friend and former pastor always sends lovely Christmas cards and the sentiment he included with this year's card really moved me. I would like to share his words with you:

"Please let us use this occasion to put in a good word for silence--an appropriate word to hear again at Christmas.  We have felt this year that our society has been noisier, with, we think, shameless incivility on both sides of the aisle, with growing evidence of explosive anger and increasing decibels of loudness.  Isn't this then the perfect time to remember "Let all mortal flesh keep silence?"  Shouldn't we softly sing "Silent Night, Holy Night" and "...how silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!"? Can't we all find at least a few moments to "be still, and know that God is God"?  Can't we find times in the next days for calmness, serenity, silence, remembering the challenge of the Prophet Isaiah, "...in quietness and in trust shall be your strength"?  We're working on these questions, and we hope that you will join us, too.

In addition to "Silent Night " -- we're singing "Joy to the World"! May the gifts of silence and joy be yours now and in the coming year."

I want to take this moment to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!!!  I'll be back to blogging next Monday!