The Silence
The leaving of one's home at a moment's notice and living as a refugee. The death of a child. There is so much chaos, noise, and bustle in those first moments. Then there is the silence.
The silence of the unique isolation of living in a foreign land, not knowing the language, being totally 'other' from all around you. The silence from having those closest to you be so very, very far away. The silence of looking all about you and seeing nothing familiar, just the overwhelming task of starting over.
The silence of a room that was supposed to be filled with the cries of a long expected child. The silence of friends and family who can't possibly find the right words. The silence of a heart broken and eyes drained of all possible tears.
It is when the silence descends that we are called all the more to be a presence for those around us. It is in the silence that we are called to be Christ's presence for others. Words and actions will never be sufficient, rather, we may be called to sit in silence with those who suffer.
If you are suffering through a period of silence, reach out to others if you can. If you find yourself unable to do do that, find one person, just one with whom you can sit in that silence.
For the rest, I invite you all to silence. See where your presence could be gifted to someone this Christmas season. Where might you be called to be the silent presence of God's love - a hospital room, hospice, a grieving mother, a desolate father, a child?
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