December 12, 2014

My Journey to God

Finding God in the Chaos

Christmas cards seem to have it all wrong—
The serene scene of Mary, Joseph, shepherds and beasts
Gathered in reverent peace around the manger,
While angel choirs sing joyous songs.
No worries, it would seem, in the least—
All is tranquil with friend and stranger.
Are you kidding me?
A young woman, her first time in labor,
Away from home, lodging in a stable,
A feeding trough as bed for the baby,
And a smelly donkey for a neighbor?
That calm seems less real, more fabled.
The whole situation sounds frantic to me.
And yet there, in the midst of the stress
And chaos, can be found the one true God.
So maybe when we find life to be a busy,
Stressful, tumultuous mess,
We’d do well if we paused—
And looked for God’s presence in the chaos.

By Natalie Hoefer
 

(Natalie Hoefer is a reporter for The Criterion and a member of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis.) †

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