Silent Night

It's Christmas eve 4am and I'm awake listening to the rain. It's quiet, the world in my area is not awake yet.  God is so present in the quiet. I know He's present always but I can sense Him more in the quiet alone times.  Our family has already celebrated Christmas so Tom and I will have a quiet Christmas, able to really focus on the reason we celebrate. Silent Night, Holy Night, All is calm, all is bright. I wonder if there had been smart phones when Jesus was born if it would have felt calm and holy back in the day. Would the shepherds have noticed the angel bringing the message of a Savior who was born in Bethlehem? Or would they have been scrolling through thier phone instead of looking up to the sky? Would the wise men have been more interested in something other than the star that led them to the holy child? What about Joseph? Would he have been texting instead of taking care of Mary in her time of need?  I have been thinking about technology lately and I have noticed that people including me are not really living in the reality of the world we are part of.  How many of you have a smart phone? How many times a day are you looking to see what someone else is doing through instagram, facebook and or twitter?  My family can be together in a room and not really be speaking to each other. Everyone is somewhere else in cyber space.  I really don't like it.  Don't get me wrong, I do love the connection to those whom I can't be near physically as the miles separate us. And I think it's a wonderful gift and can be used to enhance our lives. However, when we can't give the people who are physically with us 100% attention, time and energy because we want to look at a phone to see what someone else is doing,selling,saying or making, I believe we are giving up a great chance to truly love. We may be missing what God is asking us to do,say or hear.  I have been trying more and more to make sure that my technology is not interfering with my relationships with family, friends and even strangers that are standing next to me. (and it's really hard)I don't want to miss the star that leads me to the Christ of Christmas. For the coming year this is my goal to live in the present and in the reality of my life. I think all our fast moving time has a lot to do with our fast moving tv, internet and multiple techy contraptions.  If you want things to slow down, pull the cyber plug and enjoy the peace and quiet. Really look at those around you and listen. (Maybe hug too!) 

Psalm 46:10a Be still and know that I am God.