Not a trace

Silent Night might be my favorite Christmas Carol. Every year after we've decorated the Christmas tree, we turn off all the lights in the house. We all lay down with our heads right at the foot of the tree and we listen to Silent Night. We lay there—still—in the light of the tree and this song fills the room. And it's at that point that Christmas begins for me each year.

At the end of the carol is this verse written above. And it's packed with the real good news of Christmas. Love's pure light is born! Light that pierces the darkness and redeems all that is ugly. Light that conquers fear and shame. Light that brings peace. Light that has victory over death. Light that has the power to make all things new. That's a Holy Night.

If you have a minute, here is the rendition of Silent Night that we listen to each year. It's on my favorite Christmas album, Joy, a collaboration by Ed Cash, Allen Levi and Bebo Norman.

Here is the reading for the sixteenth day of Advent:

1 John 1:3-5

"We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy! This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him."

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_Creative Waiting is a design reflection on the season of Advent. It is released daily December 1st through the 25th. For more on the why behind the series, start here. To begin at the beginning, start with Day 1. All verses are quoted from The Message unless otherwise noted.