It was before Turkey Day when I heard it. The Salvation Army volunteer was stationed at HyVee where I play cards every week; his presence at the entrance announced to all grocery shoppers that the countdown to Christmas had begun. Cheerfully and vigorously, he revived the age-old tradition of the bell and red kettle. And suddenly the sounds of Christmas were everywhere.
Stores and restaurants keep the Christmas spirit alive and well with upbeat piped-in music. Elvis lovers get nostalgic when they hear “Blue Christmas.” Alvin and the Chipmunks are always fun, and Burl Ives having a “holly jolly Christmas” gets a person toe-tapping on the gas pedal.
Black Friday incentives lure us with super deals. Waves of humanity react to the pumped-up sales pitches on our TV’s. My husband and I hit the mute button when Mike comes on to sell his MyPillows, in a voice only his mother or dog would love.
We think to ourselves, “Gotta make it through the chaos, through the cookie decorating, the beautification of the tree, and the mantle.” Parents think, “Gotta make it through the kids’ concerts and the search for good clothes to wear.” Senior citizens like me hope to make it through the crowds infected with flu bugs. To make it through the noise level that somehow gets turned up to a deafening roar. To make it through until the chaos stops and the beautiful silence envelops those who simply let it happen. It’s getting closer now, that silence of Christmas Eve, with the only sound a whisper of wind, or the crunch of boots on snow in a world bedecked in winter white.
Why do we love the song, “Silent Night?” The tune is nice but the words, oh the words, “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.” Or “Little Town of Bethlehem,” verse three, “How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!”
This holiday season, as I do every year, I will seek that silence, escaping the noisy world. A harder task is to quiet the interior noise of my mind, especially at night when sleep doesn’t come easily. But I will try. Underneath it all, I hope to find some space and time to be silent. I wish this sacred silence for you readers, too. It will be the best Christmas gift you can receive.
