“O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light…”

Advent season is the perfect time to slow down and gaze at the stars. This Advent season each star has been given a unique name and our Saint Luke friends have been invited to reflect on what that name means to them. Their thoughtful reflections help us to also see the Advent and Christmas in new light.

Today’s reflection is from Marty Meyer:

Calm

For several years as a church musician, I played services on Christmas Eve. My family would attend the early service. After taking them home, I’d start watching the typical TV Christmas specials, but never actually see the endings. I would sneak off to bed for a nap, asking the kids to wake me. Then we’d pass on the stairs—the kids off to bed, mom off to work.

When I remarried, my new husband seemed bewildered that I had to leave the house late on Christmas Eve. Somehow he thought it was optional for me to play the church service. After attending with me our first year, he found excuses not to go. That pattern was sealed the year my mother visited and refused to leave the house so close to bedtime. And my husband couldn’t leave our guest by herself, could he? He had to help her work on the jigsaw puzzle and then make popcorn while they watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “The Christmas Story”. So I went off to do my thing, leaving a cozy Christmas scene behind me.

Often the frenzy of preparing for Christmas dropped away as I walked alone into the dark quiet of the night. By then, usually, my gift shopping was done, most gifts were wrapped, food stuff was bought. So I could walk away with a clear conscience. Stores had closed so there were few cars on the road. Quiet prevailed as holiday chatter subsided.

As always I was amazed to see so many volunteer choir members at church when I arrived. These folks had left families at home too. We all looked forward to singing and playing our hearts out on this special night of nights. After rehearsal, we found the sanctuary packed. Family members, college kids and distant relatives home for Christmas came for the traditional candle light Christmas Eve service, ending with “Silent Night” sung a cappella.

Wet as a dishrag after the last “Joy to the World” and carillon postlude, I would walk to my car. Church lights blinked off inside the building. Parking lot lights glowed. I sat warming up my car as choir members called “Merry ChristmasI ” and drove off for home. I still had music echoes in my head and felt the peace of a service well sung and well played.

As I drove out of the parking lot, little white snowflakes started to fall. My warm cocoon carried me back home, making first tracks in new snow. The streets were quiet. The houses dark. The night Jesus was born. “Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm.”

Fill us with your peace & calm. Amen.