Silent Night, Holy Night…

The carollers sang gently, aware that they were standing in a sacred moment.

All is calm, all is bright…

Their harmonized voices complemented the aura of stillness in hallway of the nursing home, a holy pairing of quietness and soothing melody.

The well worn song had probably been sung for the listener hundreds of times, a lifetime of Christmases.

But this evening is different. For this person, it might be the last Silent Night.

Glories stream from heaven afar…

This thought could be heard in the richness of the music as each voice sang with passion and purpose.

It was evident in their eyes that each one in the group was thinking about the glory of heaven… and heaven felt closer in that place, where one was so close to the gate.

Heavenly hosts sing alleluia!

These voices that were singing Silent Night so richly, that swelled the Hallelujah chorus in a train station just two days ago, were nothing to the choir their audience will hear next.

Yet they sang their best, as if to create a humble prelude of that which is soon to come.

Christ the Saviour is born!

We are celebrating His birth in the face of death… singing of His birth to one who will soon experience the full gift of His resurrection: entrance into heaven.

As the song continued, I saw the emotions of humanity, made vulnerable by the weight of this occasion.

The tears in the nurse’s eyes as she stood in the doorway of her patient’s room… knowing she would soon walk this dear soul to the doorway of eternity, and could go no farther with them.

The thoughtful expression of serious young faces, thinking about a reality they rarely come face to face with.

A smile of anticipation and eyes suddenly alight – are they imagining how wonderful it would be to wake up in Heaven on Christmas morning?

Silent Night, Holy Night…

Inside that room was indeed a Silent Night. For the waiting one, for the caregiver, for loved ones.

But we still sang. Who were we, to sing of Christmas at such a time?

Son of God, Love’s pure light

No night is too dark and silent for God’s love to shine into. His light is our hope.

The prayer in the hearts of the carollers was this – that hope would shine into the Silent Night in that little room.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

It almost seemed as if the light of heaven did brighten that crowded hallway as we stood there with one who is nearing heaven’s gate.

Every heart was encouraged to keep on in our journeys until we each arrive home…

With the dawn of redeeming grace!

A Christmas season departure breaks the hearts of those left behind. But let hope be found in the angels words on a long ago Silent Night… the words that announced Salvation’s plan unfolding, words that forever changed the course of history, and words that if we choose, will impact our own future for eternity:

“Christ the Savior is born!”