NEW CASTLE —
A hush rolls across the land as we are greeted with the first glimmer of morning light. All is calm as an eerie silence encompasses the entire earth.
The frigid morning chill and a handful of dancing snowflakes welcomes the mystical morning of Dec. 25.
The hustle, bustle, and stress of everyday life has melted away and has been replaced with an expansive peace. Forgotten are the to-do lists and credit card balances. There are no traffic reports or breaking morning news reports. Political banter and sports rivalries have come to a screeching halt. All things have been replaced by peace on earth and goodwill to men.
Christmas Day is wrapped in an unprecedented serenity, which can even make my hardened, Grinchy heart grow three times its size. At first light you can almost hear the brush of angelic wings and heavenly voices softly floating down from the sky, embracing mankind in saintly harmony.
Gone is the turmoil and strife of the everyday grind. Stock quotes, account balances, and 401-K savings plans are absent from our thoughts. Also gone are the Black Friday, pre-Christmas and the last-minute gift sales.
As the world slowly awakens, they are welcomed into an aura of satisfaction, completeness, and fulfillment. Children are alive with excitement and delight, while proud parents look on at their offspring with joy warming their hearts.
Every Dec. 25 the world somehow magically transforms into a peaceful and wonderful place. Maybe it's the fact that everybody is relieved to have made it to this special day, or maybe it is the relief from the overwhelming commercial push that bombards us from every side. Or perhaps it is something quite more divine and we are simply experiencing a minute taste of what is.
Whatever the answer is, I fully enjoy and embrace the beautiful silence of the Christmas morn. The stillness and solitude hold a special place deep in my heart. Each year I try to awake before the family and spend just a few brief moments alone, soaking in the atmosphere that is a Christmas Day.
Josh Drespling
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About Josh Drespling: Josh is a former graphic designer at The News. His blog appears each Saturday.
Discussion
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