”Peace from the Barn” Advent Devotion for November 30, 2021

Peace from the Barn
But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.
--Job 12:7-10

A tradition in our farm family was that the children would go out to the barn on Christmas Eve and wait for Santa to visit and leave presents under the tree. Going out to the barn was usually a cold walk but once we got in the barn, we felt the warmth of the cattle around us. The barn smelled of hay and the beautiful Holstein cows peacefully chewed their cud, lowed softly, and observed the humans who seemed to be waiting for something important to happen.

The children nervously awaited a sign from the house that Santa had arrived. But as we watched for the house light to blink the children seemed to be calmed by the quietness of the animals and they too recognized that an important event had happened long ago and was much more significant than Santa. Did Mary and Joseph experience the same calm and quiet from the animals they shared the manger with? Did the warmth of the animals and their lowing make the wait for Jesus a little easier?

What a wonderful experience to share with these wise and gentle animals the anticipation of such a significant event. They knew that a child was coming who would change the world and they made Mary and Joseph’s wait a little easier, just like the cattle in the barn at our farm on Christmas Eve.

Dear Lord Jesus, help us to wait with patience and silence for your arrival like the cattle in our barn and in the stable in Bethlehem taught us to wait. Amen

--Claire and Jack Krause, Confirmation Students
--Pat Cook, Confirmation Mentor

 

Podcast read by Bill Anciaux