Cancel the Noise

Is it just me or have things gotten really noisy in our lives-–especially around the holidays?

Christmas is once again just around the corner. From now and till then, I am assuming there’s going to be plenty of noise going around: NOISE. NOISE. NOISE.

Babies crying

Watch dinging

Phone vibrating

"Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad." "Mom. Mom. Mom."

Parent: "WHAT!"

Kid: "I’M HUNGRY." AHHHH!!

Alerts

Horns honking

TV blaring

Christmas can be a time of so much chaos and noise. Sometimes I have a tendency to read the Christmas story in scripture as if it is untouchable. Sacred. Like a Hallmark movie.

However, the nativity is a real story. In real time. In real history.

And, do we think the nativity did not have any noise? Oh, it most certainly did.

Fact number 1: Baby Jesus was born in a dark cave where animals lived. Have you ever been to a farm? Ever taken your kids to the zoo? Noise. “Mooo….Bah”. Do you think Jesus was a baby like Grogu “aka Baby Yoda” and was like, “Silence you, Cow. May the force be with you.” NOPE. HE WAS A BABY.

Fact number 2: There was a census going on. Do you know what that meant? People everywhere. Like the Saturday before Christmas at the mall. People everywhere.

Families everywhere looking for a place to stay so they could be registered.

Fact number 3: The Bible teaches that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. We can’t separate the reality of his humanity and divinity. Culture tries really hard to suppress this reality.

One may look at baby Jesus, the nativity, the picturesque scene of Mary holding her newborn son and assume that everything was calm, sweet, nice, and lovely. Some of our beloved Christmas carols speak very clearly to this idea as well:

Away in Manager

The cattle are lowing

The Baby awakes

But little Lord Jesus

No crying He makes

STOP! NO CRYING HE MAKES?

Is this baby for real? I have kids. Uh newsflash, babies cry! They cry a lot. At night. In the morning. In the afternoon. Like, all the time. Especially when they are hungry. They are noisy.

Let's keep going.

How about Silent Night?

Silent night, holy night.

All is calm, all is bright.

STOP! All is calm? All is bright? Wait, what? Have you actually ever read the nativity story in Matthew and Luke? When Jesus was born, it was not all calm. It was noisy, messy, crazy and loud with animals and humans.

In all this noise. All this chaos. All this chatter and hustle and bustle, the angel pronounced:

Luke 2:10: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Can you hear the sounds?

Can you see what is happening?

I know this will be shocking for some:

Christmas is about Jesus.

It will always be about Jesus.

It will never stop being about Jesus.

Though the gifts are fun.

Meals are great.

Spending time with family and friends is special and so needed.

I must never forget that this all points to a deeper reality. A deeper truth. Something else is going on beyond the noise.

Hope. Peace. Love. Joy arrived when Jesus was born.

Can you hear it more clearly now?

Can you see it?

Will the noise of today drown it out?

I have two suggestions: In the next 7 days, please take some deep breaths. Consider Jesus as a baby. If you can, recite some truth:

I have hope for the future because Jesus is my future.

I can love others because Jesus first loved me.

Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace in my life. You calm my fears.

You are my joy, Jesus. Despite what today may bring.

In the next 7 days, get quiet and read the nativity story in Luke or Matthew..

Set the phone on do not disturb.

Turn the TV off.

Light the candle or use the battery powered ones.

Reflect.

Calm your mind.

“Cancel the noise” (with or without noise canceling headphones, but they can really help) of everyday life and the chaos of the season and allow silence, peace and stillness to reign.

This is what our souls desperately need right now:

To see Jesus.

To be reminded that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us!

To lean in close to Him and not allow the world’s craziness and noise to prevent us from seeing and hearing him this season (and all year round).

Let’s not miss Him–the goodness and light that He brings to each of us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.