Listen to this article in the voice of the author, Bishop Rick Whitter:

WINTER 2024 ISSUE | 6 minute read

When Joseph Mohr penned the lyrics to the iconic 1816 Christmas hymn, Silent Night, little did he know of the desperate need for calmness in our 2024 world. Phrases such as heavenly peace and tender and mild are in stark contrast to the real-life chaos that dominates many lives. In our rush to meet shopping deadlines, our anxiety over holiday travel, our angst at the rising costs of gifts, and our pressure to make the most of the holy season, we too may gloss over the innate need, even desperation, for calmness. In fact, the last thing that may come to your mind when you consider the upcoming Christmas season is peace of mind, quietness of spirit, or serenity of the soul.

The power of the song, Silent Night, and more importantly, of the concept of calm in troubled times is personified in the true history account of Christmas Eve 1914 when the German and French armies were on the battlefields of World War I. An impromptu singing of Christmas Carols, Silent Night included, created the Christmas Truce of 1914. Soldiers from both sides stopped fighting for a few hours. They exchanged Christmas songs, simple gifts, and even a friendly game of soccer! What an iconic scene that must have been!

A Calm Christmas seems a million miles away to many people. A nation torn by partisan politics, an unstable economic future, racial and social unrest, and a season of unprecedented natural disasters seems a poor atmosphere to be considering repose or serenity. However, the entire point of Christmas is the peace that God offers to the world through his Son, Jesus Christ. "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men" was the angelic proclamation offered to frightened and confused shepherds on the night of Christ's birth. But for too many, peace is a foreign concept. Life simply has no space or time for such a naïve concept, especially in a sin-weary world like ours.

A few who read this article may scoff at the overly simplistic theme. But cynicism about the possibility of calm is not new. During the first Advent season, not everyone was peaceful. Herod was tormented by the idea of a newborn king. The innkeepers of Bethlehem were stressed because of overcrowded facilities. Surely Joseph was stressed because he could not secure lodging suitable for the birth of the Christ child. Luke even declares that Mary was greatly troubled at his (the angel’s) words.

God does not force calmness on anyone. He freely offers it, but He leaves it up to us if we embrace it or not. Notice that those in the Bible who embraced calm first came to a point of surrender.

Is it possible for us to surrender and give up our normal response to the stresses of this busy season? Can we actually embrace calm? Here is how it’s possible:

Be intentional: A calm Christmas won’t happen on its own. You must take control (if you hope to surrender.) Set aside time to ponder what calmness looks like in your life. Make it a priority to create an atmosphere where peace and tranquility exist.

Be still. Calmness won’t accompany frantic movement. Sit down. Clear your mind of all the demands. If necessary, force yourself to think on something seemingly unimportant – the drifting clouds, the breeze in the trees, the fluttering of the birds. And stay still longer than you are comfortable with.

Be quiet. You’ll need to silence your phone. No background music is needed. Take some time to not speak. Silence in your spirit makes room for the Holy Spirit to be heard.

Be sensitive. Pray for discernment. Listen for the voice of the Spirit. Pay close attention to gentle whispers. His still, quiet voice will be heard when all others are silenced.

Be calm. God freely offers this gift to His children; receive it and embrace it. Be surrounded by His peace. Practice calm. Live out the peace that He provides.

Don’t worry about all the doing that needs to be done. Just BE with the Lord.

Embrace the promise of Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

An All is Calm Christmas can turn into a calm life. Heavenly peace can influence an earthly serenity. In the middle of a stormy world, Christians can and should enjoy a deep, settled peace.

It’s your choice! You can’t necessarily choose your surroundings, but you must choose your response to those surroundings.

Let’s choose an All is Calm Christmas and a peaceful life for Christ into the future.