First, in a normal voice. What words or images do you notice?
Second, in a soft stage whisper, so only your own soul
can hear. What words or images did this
way of reading awaken and arise within you?
Third, sing out the words as a prayer for these Advent
days.
In deepest night
Christ’s coming shall be, when all the world is despairing,
As morning light
so quiet and free, so warm and gentle and caring.
One without voice
breaks forth in song, a lame one leaps in wonder,
The weak are
raised above the strong, and weapons are broken asunder…
There has been a
subtle shift in our world that has had a major impact on our lives ~ sales
of alarm clocks are down.
Wait, you think, what?? That is the subtle, substantial
shift? You think, “Wes should watch the
news more”
Stay with me.
When I was a kid,
remember one Christmas asking for a digital alarm clock that had a built-in
cassette player! I just dated
myself. Because some of you are thinking,
what is a cassette player? And others
are thinking, “Hmph, sounds like a pretty fancy item, I remember when all I got
for Christmas was a pair socks and I was happy about it.” Getting back to my point, most people now use
their cell phones as an alarm clock.
Most people before they get out of bed are scrolling headlines and
social media. This means that
before we are fully awake to greet the new morn, we already know the truth of
that first line we just sang, “when all the world is despairing.”
Many psychologists
wonder about how healthy this common practice of scrolling and checking your
phone really is? Many of the podcasts I
listen to talk about putting your cell phone into “time out” or a fence around
it. Your cell phone is not allowed to leave
the kitchen/living room area. But, wait,
you think, what if someone texts me?
They might have to wait. What if
it is an emergency? If someone you love
is having surgery or a family member is on a trip, by all means ignore this
invitation during that time. If it is an
ordinary Tuesday, which many are, putting limits on your cell phone a good
prayer practice. When we awaken to the
morning light that is quiet and free, we hear a different song than what is
sung to us on Facebook (ironic that I am posting this there I know).
How might you and
I listen to the “One without voice” today, realizing that sometimes that is you
without voice, sometimes your neighbor, your friend, or someone who has been on
your mind and you’ve meant to call. Let this
Carol today sing to your soul and conduct the melody of your life with hope of
living with God’s presence. Amen.
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