Silent night

December 23, 2012

 

Silent night, holy night;

All is calm, all is bright.

God loved us so he sent his son;

Christ, Jesus, the atoning one.

For some, is too much to imagine; too much to even hope for.

For others it is a certain reality that embodies the entire purpose of mankind.

 

Certainly the birth of Jesus Christ is the most significant event in the history of the eternities. Heralded for centuries by prophets; depicted and carefully inlaid in the old testament stories of Abraham, Isaac , Jacob Israel; back to Adam and forward to Isaiah. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, additional scripture shares even more of the birth, life, crucifixion, resurrection, atonement, and Godhood of Jesus Christ.

 

Silent, calm, and holy are words reflect the idea of quiet, peaceful, reverent, meaningful, and unmarred moments not denigrated by circumstances too often found in the world around us. On a warm summer night west of Hawaii, some shipmates and I went to the flight deck and sat looking off into the beautiful evening sky and observing the wonders God had provided. We could see the curvature of the earth, the setting sun, the depth of the ocean. It was silent. We were silent and in total awe.

 

This week as the world look on with horror as the horrific act of terror was played out against some of God’s smallest creations, most of us went about our duties in that same calm, reflective manner. We wondered what had happened to make someone complete such a monstrous act against humanity. Could it have been prevented? Will such an event happen again? Why would a loving father in heaven allow such acts of treachery? Hardly a week goes by in which we do not see evidences of the evil encouraged by Satan. Our job; our very purpose on earth is to fortify ourselves, our families, and all in our sphere of influence by sharing the absolute nature of God and of his complete and everlasting love for us. We can feel that silent, calm, and holy understanding of life on a minute by minute basis.

 

We need only look at God’s creations to see past the barrage of negatives which present themselves. Grandmother and I have an unwritten rule that whenever something filthy comes on the television one of us instantly switches it off. On one such occasion I switched off the television when a scantily clad girl trotted herself out but I was not in time to get an eye full. Grandmother apologized to me and said, “I am sorry I didn’t catch that in time. I know you don’t like to see those things.” I shared with her that the real problem was that I really did like seeing that kind of thing, which makes it all the more important that I avoid trash like the plague. The New Testament tells us to become perfect. The book of Mormon in Moroni 10: 32 tells us to, “Come unto Christ and rid ourselves of all ungodliness. My continuing personal resolution is to stay within the bounds of silent, calm and holy places and in so doing bless the lives of others by listening, learning, and then encouraging others to find that same place of rest.

 

God bless you at this marvelous time of year when we celebrate this most holy day through honoring our Savior through the celebration of the Christmas miracle.

 

Duane Jacobs, Grandfather, pop, uncle, brother, cousin, and fond friend