Silent Night

"Jesus answered, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.'" -John 3:5

In today's Our Daily Bread David McCasland shares a poem published in 1657 written by a Polish monk named Silesius...

      Lo! in the silent night a child to God is born,
      And all is brought again that ere was lost or lorn,
      Could but thy soul, O man, become a silent night
      God would be born in thee and set all things aright.
      Ah, would thy heart but be a manger for the birth,
      God would once more become a child on earth.

We bought the lighted figures of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus in the 1980s for our children.  When our grandchildren started coming along we got it out of the attic and set it up once again at Christmas.  Our new tradition is to walk out into the woods carrying candles (battery-operated one for the little ones) singing carols as we go.  When we get to the creche we sing Silent Night.  I love the original poem above because it asks the question. . . .

Ah, would thy heart but be a manger for the birth

This is why Jesus was born and why He died and rose again.  As each of us lets Him into our heart God once more becomes a "child on earth."

I am grateful that as I silence the competing voices, my heart can become a manger for the Holy Spirit.