COLUMN: Grey Matters – Have yourself a merry little silent night Christmas

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence.” -Mother Teresa

Silence is not absence but presence: being present to wonder amid seasonal noise. Practicing even brief, intentional silence can transform holiday busyness into a quieter, more meaningful celebration.

Christmas arrives amid a cacophony of lights, shopping, events and obligations, which makes moments of peace and reflection difficult to have. Amid this, times of silence can function like a lens: it sharpens attention, reduces distraction, and lets small, important details – conversations, memories, prayers – come into focus.

“Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.”

Although silence is elusive, when a moment of silence does appear it often provides the best soundtrack to life’s quieter textures: the crackle of a fire, the breathing of a sleeping child, the crunch of snow underfoot. Enjoying these moments as they come can reframe the holiday from performance to presence. Personally, I love being in the woods and trying to see if I can hear anything. Ah, the sound of silence.

Silence is also good for our physical and spiritual well-being. “Research suggests that silence can lower blood pressure, relieve stress, boost creativity, and even allow our bodies to develop new brain cells. How much silence do you experience in a typical day? In what ways do you wait for God in silence?” (April Yamasaki). If being intentional with silence is a new thing, start small. Begin with 15 minutes of phone-free quiet – light a candle, read a passage of scripture, breathe slowly, or simply sit. Short, regular pauses are more sustainable than one long, idealized silence.

“How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!”

For many faith traditions, silence is the precondition for Lectio Divino, a centuries old practice of ‘divine listening’. Advent and Christmas are not only about singing or celebrating; they are about being ready to receive – an attitude of expectant listening. Silence cultivates the inner posture needed to hear what matters most, whether that is a sense of gratitude, a memory, or a conviction about how to live in the year ahead. The shepherds’ quiet night prepared them to receive the angelic message; silence made their understanding and witness possible.

“O hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing.”

Invite shared silence this Christmas. A family reading of the Christmas story or a moment of quiet before a meal teaches children that silence is a gift, not an absence. Small practices make silence accessible even in busy households and can transform holiday routines into meaningful pauses.

Silence at Christmas is a gift: it gives us time, an opportunity to listen and to reflect. When we notice and honour moments of quiet, we make room for wonder, for grief and joy to coexist, and for the season’s deeper meanings to surface. The holiday’s truest sound may be the hush that lets us hear what we otherwise miss—ourselves, one another, and the ancient truth that endures.

“No ear may hear His coming; but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him, still, the dear Christ enters in.”

Gary Dyck is a chaplain and spiritual care provider at a hospital and personal care home in the Southeast.