How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given...

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The world feels like a noisy place these days. 
The noise of terror. 
The noise of fear. 
The noise of accusation. 
The noise of indignation. 

Noise! Noise! Noise!

We are so caught up in this noise, so consumed by it, that we have forgotten what life is like without this surround-sound cacophony of our own making.

But God hasn’t...

Amid the noise and confusion, the gift of Jesus is given—again. This gift is given silently,
  without fanfare,
  without pretension.

This gift is given in the silent spaces between 
              the noise of our world and
  the noise of our own life.

The gift of Jesus is given silently
            in the pause of life that is the very breath of God.

The gift of Jesus is given silently,
as light that stubbornly shines in the darkness,
as love that patiently fills the emptiness,
as grace that tirelessly pools in the crevices,
as peace that persistently heals the pain.

The gift of Jesus is given silently,
as hope born anew into our noisy world,
for you,
for me.
for all.

During this Christmas season and beyond,
may you live in the abiding blessing of this wondrous gift!

Bishop Jim Gonia

(I took this photo at dawn on December 22 and wanted to share with you the wondrous gift of morning light and reflection and silence.)


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