A Good Kind of Noise
How do you contribute to the noise in this world?
Maybe you post on social media. Maybe you have a role in your community, school, or workplace where others listen to you. Maybe your daily noise is words exchanged with people in your family, at home. We text; we sing; we honk our horns; we exchange small talk as we pick up our coffee or groceries. We chat with a neighbor, teacher, or friend.
We all add to the noise.
Part of this Advent season is about learning to sometimes choose silence—remembering that we don’t need to add to the noise, just because we can.
But when we do contribute to the sounds of this world—we can choose what sort of noise we add.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.… And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:17-18, 20
The easiest time to tell the Christmas story—as the shepherds found—is at Christmas. They hadn’t become theological scholars overnight; they didn’t have all the answers or understand what every bit of it meant—but they had good news and a story to share. We get the sense they were genuinely moved to tell others what they had seen and heard; and as they did, they continued to process it for themselves. Listen to this. Here’s what we saw. What do you think? Glory to God!
A handful of decades later, the biblical writer Paul offered some guidance on taming our internal noise—the thoughts that shape the noise we bring into the world.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. …And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9b
This week, we all get to be shepherds. We get to gently and beautifully share the birth of Jesus around our tables, fireplaces, and neighborhoods. We can hope to catch a little of their enthusiasm—because when we contribute good news, good noise, to the world, the God of peace is with us: Emmanuel.
Today, think about Christmas: not the tasks left on your list, or the things you have yet to buy. Find a manger scene: a nativity in your house, an image on a card, or a display on the street. Tell yourself the story of Christmas. Ask God to show you how you can add a good kind of noise to your world.
Song: “Go Tell It On the Mountain” –Sarah Reeves
This song is part of our Silent Nights playlist on Spotify.