Hello ,

In 1796, a fierce blizzard swept across Austria just days before Christmas. In the small village of Oberndorf, a church’s pipe organ froze and became unusable. Canceling the Christmas Eve service seemed inevitable. 

But a young priest, Joseph Mohr, brought a short poem he had written to his friend Franz Gruber, and together they created a gentle guitar-led hymn to comfort their anxious congregation. That hymn was “Silent Night.”

What began as two men making room for a community’s worry became one of the world’s most beloved Christmas songs.

Love looks like that—making room. Making room for interruptions. Room for people who feel overwhelmed. Room for those who don’t know where they fit during the holiday season. God did the same when He sent His Son; He made room for humanity, for the messy, the weary, and the broken.

This season invites us to slow our pace and widen our hearts. The greatest gift may be the space you make for someone else. A listening ear. An unhurried moment. A willingness to include someone who feels alone. You never know how your small act of making room may become someone’s calm in the storm.

Here's my favorite rendition of this beautiful old holiday classic: Silent Night

Scripture reminds us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels without knowing it.” — Hebrews 13:2

When you make room for someone during the holidays, you are reflecting the very heart of Christmas.

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word