”Peace in the Stable” Advent Devotion for December 8, 2021

Peace in the Stable

Written by --Pat Harrington, Outreach Team Chair

Read by Bill Anciaux

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and souls in Christ Jesus.
-- Philippians 4:7

Years ago, while living in Atlanta. Georgia, I owned a horse. He was stabled about 40 miles away, so whenever I went out to ride, it meant getting home from work, changing clothes, eating a quick dinner and then driving 45 minutes to the stable. By the time I got there it was usually night, but the barn and riding ring were well-lit. Inside, it was warm and smelling of horses and hay and tack. Everyone there was caring for an animal, helping younger riders, keeping the barn clean. It was a welcoming and safe place, a community in a stable.

As I think about the Christmas story, and especially think about the peace of God that transcends all understanding, I wonder if perhaps we’ve gotten the story a bit wrong. Perhaps being born in a stable was a good start — safe in a warm place, surrounded by sleepy animals — peaceful indeed. We fill the birth story with camels and sheep and a donkey and cows.

Maybe this is God’s way of reminding us that we are all part of God’s glorious creation. Maybe that peace and understanding that we seek comes from a small start, such as in a stable, with the animals. Maybe my memories of my welcoming stable will help me to better celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus in his own peaceful stable.

Let us celebrate the peace that can come from small places. Let us appreciate all of God’s creatures, both animal and human. Let us seek to understand our connectedness to all living things. Let us give thanks for the joy of Christ’s birth. Amen