The Thin Place
a story by Marsha Whitton
Before the age of 40, most all my traditions were secular, but in the last 30 years the traditions with my church family have become my most essential traditions. Starting with Lessons and Carols, moving on to Advent Studies, the Children’s Pageant and the joyous Homeroom and Sunday School Christmas parties. The star over the manger for me however, is the 10:30 pm Christmas Eve Service. I usually come from my home which is overflowing with visiting family and the kitchen chaos that comes from days in a row with more than a dozen gathered for meals. I leave behind the wrapping and baking still needing to be done before the Christmas Day meals and celebrations. I enter the church and suddenly I am in sacred space and am experiencing sacred time. And then, the string orchestra begins playing “O Come All Ye Faithful”, the choir processes and my voice joins theirs and I am transported into this “thin place” untouched by my overactive life whirling around me. My eyes are brimming with tears and I know I have come home. While kneeling at the communion rail to receive Holy Communion by candlelight, I know this is the most important shared meal I will have at Christmas. While passing the lighted candles that transform the dark church into a golden gathering, revealing the glowing faces of all who have come, I know I am surrounded by love. Concluding by singing the last verse of Silent Night with only the sound of other pilgrim voices, I am sent off into the quiet holy night, driving home in a quiet car with near empty streets continuing to hum the song. I arrive back at my house about midnight and re-enter my home - now quiet and dark. For these brief moments on Christmas Eve, all seems right in the world and the peace I experience gives me hope that it will one day come to all. My day draws to an end knowing I have just experienced the sweetest gift of the season. O, Come, O, Come Emanuel.
Scripture: Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.
Prayer
God with us, may we be still long enough this advent season to recognize and meet you in the thin places of Christmas. Amen
