In 1818, in the town of Oberndorf, Autsria, on a cold Christmas Eve, the organist discovered the organ could not be used for the evening services. Mice had eaten the leather bellows and ruined it. It seemed there would be no music at Oberndorf's Christmas Eve service.
But Vicar Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber put their heads and talents together...and wrote an new song, one that didn't need the organ but that could be played on a guitar. "Stille Nacht" was introduced that night at midnight mass- and today "Silent Night" is sung around the world in more than ninety languages. What appeared to be a tragedy birthed something new and lasting.
As you look on your own life, what births do you see waiting to emerge from the difficulties you may encounter this Christmas season? Human disasters are often the very circumstances that God uses to shine light into our lives.
-by Viole Ruekle Gommer
What a thought! Even though not being able to use an organ may not really fall into the "tragedy" category, it still must have been very frustrating and disheartening to those in charge of the Christmas Eve service. And yet, Mohr and Gruber seized the opportunity to seek God and ask, "What would You have us to do in this circumstance?" God answered that prayer, and not only allowed them to be a blessing that Christmas, but for almost 200 years afterward. We're singing an accapella version of "Silent Night" for our Christmas Eve service this year.
So, I am asking my self the question of Gommer, "What births do I see waiting to emerge from the difficulties I am encountering this Christmas season?" There are a few- car problems, financial hardships, interpersonal miscommunications...and right now I ask God, "Please show me what You want me to do with these things." I cannot wait to see how He leads and guides me. I am open to whatever He has, because that's when the truly amazing occurs. That's when things that I would never dream of accomplishing become reality- and with an impact that lasts! I pray that you ask him to lead and guide you, too. I know you won't be disappointed!
