Davenport When . . . Mary had been betrothed to Joseph . . . she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:18-20)

Soon we will be singing "Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin mother and child!" This carol paints a picture that the birth of Christ was a quiet and peaceful event. However, the Christmas season is often anything but quiet and peaceful. There's often too much to do in too packed of a schedule and therefore we're ready to drop in exhaustion.

Perhaps we feel this way because we have not made time each day to listen. Our lives need rest that comes from silence, away from the noise and busyness of the world. To most of us silence is the absence of sound. Silence also makes room for a presence - our presence in God's presence. In silence we are able to listen in a way we can't when we are surrounded by noise and distractions. As a friend puts it, "Prayer happens when we first 'shut up and listen' to God."

Joseph was able to carry out God's will because he was willing to listen. When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, the scriptures tell us "he considered this." Then an angel approached him and told him that Mary's was not a typical pregnancy and that this baby would be Emmanuel ("God with us").

To "consider" something, one has to be willing to listen and prayerfully examine all the angles. If Joseph had reacted abruptly and made his decision "off-the-cuff," he would probably never have heard the angel's message and not carried out the grander plan God had for him and the world.

Let each of us be challenged to find a few moments during this next week to be alone with God. With the strength that comes from "quiet rest" with God, we can truly approach "the manger" and worship the Prince of Peace with the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts and on our minds.

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalms 46:10)

(Sam Davenport is the transitional pastor at Flora First Christian Church.)