Not So Silent Night

My girls and I had our lovely mother-daughter day this past weekend.
Each year we set aside the second Saturday of December and do something special.
We have gone to New York and had a carriage ride around Central Park.
We have gone into Philadelphia to see the Nutcracker.

This year we spent the afternoon and evening at Longwood Gardens.

In 1700, a Quaker family named Peirce purchased the property from William Penn and soon established a working farm. Joshua and Samuel Peirce began planting an arboretum on the farm in 1798. The farm was purchased in 1906 by Pierre du Pont so he could preserve the trees, and from 1907 until the 1930s Mr. du Pont created most of what is enjoyed today. (from the history of Longwood)

Simply breathtaking.
Pierre duPont saw the garden as a theater and tied his gardens directly to the great gardens of Italy and France.

One can enjoy concerts under the stars, fireworks displays, seasonal beauty, lighted fountains, a children’s garden, and tours of the historic duPont home.

Sheer beauty, especially at night, with more than a million Christmas lights wrapped around trees, lighting the pathways.
Christmas trees of all kinds were decorated so beautifully.
It was difficult to know where to look with so much to see all around you.

The highlight of my day was in the Conservatory…inside the grand ballroom.
There is an enormous pipe organ which has been under renovation.
The work was finished last year…to the delight of the guests.

The Longwood Organ is a symphonic instrument, and was designed to play transcriptions of orchestral music.
During the Christmas season, Christmas Carols are sung on the hour throughout the day.
I sat there mesmerized at the sheer size of the instrument.
The organist was magnificently gifted…with a warm personality to match.

Sitting in the Grand Ballroom, crystal chandeliers hanging from the tiled ceiling, I was transported to another time.
A time before computers, before television, before cell phones…where listening to an orchestral concert was the preferred entertainment.

The organist told us that he was a church organist.
He used the word “blessed” often as he spoke to us.
I knew he was a kindred spirit.
The Spirit of Christ was evident in that room….evident in him.
He told us that he has been at Longwood for over thirty years.

One of my daughters leaned over and said, He’s a Christian.
She said what I had just been thinking.

We sang songs like Jingle Bells and The Twelve Days Of Christmas.
We also sang Angels We Have Heard On High and Silent Night.
It was Silent Night that touched my heart so deeply.

Perhaps, because my heart was heavy, due to the events of the last few days.
Perhaps, because I realized that HE was palpably present.
Even there…in that place…He made Himself known.

Even here…Even now!
Especially now!

The tears just started to come.
The tears that come to the outer corner of your eye…and quietly trickle down.
Tears for the families who lost their precious children.
The pure evil of that tragedy contrasted with the tenderness of Silent Night.

Even here, Lord…You make Yourself known.
Even there, Lord…You are the only source of true comfort.
Even in a Ballroom, with an exquisite pipe organ…Your voice is above all other voices.

I looked around the room, and saw the ornate walls.
I learned that the walls are covered with a special acoustic fabric.
Behind the fabric are the pipes of the organ.
Over 10,000 pipes fill two floors of the building.

The music swelled and the walls began to move.
The vibrations literally shook the walls!
I thought of the sound of the angel choir.

Can you hear it?
Can you see the walls shake?
Can you hear the announcement break through the silent night?

The night is not silent any longer.
Evil reared its ugly head.
Evil will never victorious!
Evil will be silenced!

The Baby in the manger.
The King lying on the straw.
The Lord…the Victor…that will crush the head of the evil one.
A not so silent night…

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Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm all is bright,
Round yon virgin mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light,
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!

(Lyrics: Joseph Mohr & Music: Franz Gruber)

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But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:10-14)