…All is calm, all is bright…
There are so many words to describe 2020, but I am sure calm isn’t one of them.
Chaotic, disruptive, divisive, frustrating, challenging, isolating… but calm? No. Not this year!
Still we sing, “all is calm.” This is even more evident in Silent Night’s original German. The first words describe a “Stille nacht….” Still, quiet, peaceful, calm. The music matches the words. So peaceful and calm.
In this Advent season, I long for calmness, but it is so elusive. And how do you encourage someone to embody this peaceful demeanor? If there is one thing that will not bring calm, it is telling someone to calm down.
That makes sense, you know. An agitated person knows that they are not calm. Telling them how to feel is not going to change their feelings. It will likely have the opposite effect. Perhaps our attitudes need to change, but calmness requires a change of circumstances.
The disciples experienced this firsthand one evening when, they left a crowd to cross the Sea of Galilee in a boat. A terrifying storm descended while Jesus was sleeping. When they woke him, complaining that he did not care, Jesus commanded the sea to be still. Though they lacked faith, Jesus delivered them, calming the storm – and undoubtedly calming them. He did it.
Maybe, when they later reflected on this, they remembered the words of Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though… the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam…. Be still and know that I am God.
Jesus responded to the turmoil of the disciples by changing their circumstances. He calmed the sea. I would sure like him to speak those words in some circumstances in my life. I could use the calm that follows.
I wonder how often we misunderstand a song by when we take a breath. How do we sing this one?
Silent night, holy night. (breathe)
All is calm, all is bright. (breathe)
We take those as independent sentences, as if we’re objectively describing the night before seeing Jesus. That’s not the song. We need to move our calming breath to the end of the sentence to understand.
All is calm, all is bright round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
The night is not calm by itself. It is calm – peaceful, tranquil – around the Christ Child. He is the one who brings calm. Not by telling us to be calm, but by changing our circumstances. God enters our world to redeem us. Your God and Savior is here. He who calms the sea can calm our hearts.
All is calm around the holy Infant, for he is the Prince of Peace.