NOISE TO THE WORLD!

During a typical lunch hour at the University of California at Berkeley, spokesmen for or against a dozen different causes can be found on the plaza, most of them trying to "out-shout" one another. One day a lone figure sat down in the middle of the noisy crowd and held up a sign that said, "SILENT PROTEST." Someone asked him, "What are you protesting?" The young man held up another sign which said, "NOISE."

This time of year there is a lot of noise about Christmas, also for or against. In an eastern city a Salvation Army woman was informed by a policeman that a local ordinance prevented her from ringing her bells to invite contributions. But a new law did not stop this inventive woman. The next day she did a more brisk business than ever as she stood by her red kettle and waved one sign and then another in the air. The signs said, "DING!" and "DONG!"

There is much noise in our world, especially in these days that lead up to Christmas. Whether it's music blaring out of stores or impatient customers raising their voices; whether it's the honking of horns in overcrowded parking lots or small children crying in the toy section; whether it's athiests griping or Christians complaining, there is a lot of noise to contend with in this season. And the sad truth is that if you really want to be heard right now, you are probably going to have to shout.

Noise during Advent is nothing new. John the Baptizer shouted his message in the desert, "Prepare the way of the Lord!" (Mark 1:3) John may have shouted just to get people's attention. People of his day were distracted by worldly things just as we are. Spokesmen for diverse causes always need an audience, but John's "cause" was eternal. He was preparing a decaying world for the eternal Savior. His message would lead people to follow a man who was born amid the singing of angels and the bleating of sheep. The Prince of Peace was born into a land which has known little peace.

My prayer for each one reading this message is that during this noisy Advent/Christmas season you will find some time for peace and quiet. May it be in bedside prayer at night, or with your Bible in the morning. May you find peace in your room or inside your car on the freeway. Peace doesn't depend on what is outside your ears; it depends on what is inside your heart.

May the Prince of Peace calm your troubled heart.