The Evening Train
I know the night train. I’ve waited at crossings. I know the early morning train even better, because it wakes me and I listen as it moves through the valley. I know where all the crossings are. I have waited at the gates watching red lights flashing, heard the bells ringing and listened for the whistle as the train approaches. I have felt the power of the engine and trailing cars as the earth trembles. Every time I wait, I watch as the rail cars roll by, and like a kid, I count.
The Sunday Morning Train
The 4:10 train first arrives in a dream. Some nights, depending on the wind and its direction, I can hear steel on steel and the clickity-clack of tracks. Always, I can hear the whistle. The whistle fills the valley. A whistle at every train road crossing. The whistle comes in the open window, fills the room, touches everything, crowds into a dream, crowds close enough I wake to wonder where I am. A whistle loud enough to touch every tree, every leaf of every tree in the valley. Shrill, sharp, piercing – it strikes every leaf, top and bottom, rattling the molecules inside and on some microscopic level, the leaf trembles. The sound no more settles than the train approaches another crossing and the sound, the whistle, travels out touching everything again in the valley.
Church
Later, 8AM church bells ring from the churches in the valley, calling everyone to worship. The faithful dress, crosses adorned, then they walk to church – some with bibles in hand. They sit, stand, sing, sit again, and kneel. As they lean forward, they feel the cross swing, inches from their heart.
The Silent Night Cross,
And What Can Only Be Felt
And then there is all that can’t be seen. What we can see is good, solid, wholesome, pure, true. The unseen…the mystery…the power, the force, the light and life. The unseen is felt, it echoes within, it tells stories. It tells stories about us and people we know, it speaks of heaven and as it does, the mystery deepens.
The cross is earthly, the gold is from the earth’s rivers and streams running fast. The diamonds are of the earth too – deep, deep, hundreds of feet down, frozen inside of ancient volcanoes. The blue sapphire is from Sri Lanka, off the south-eastern tip of India, the fabled gem island of Ceylon. Light blue sapphire, the color of baby tiger’s eyes – beautiful in the center of this Christian cross. A spiritual treasure from the jeweler’s art: gold found, gems cut – it’s like magic.
We gave extra special attention to our offering of Christian crosses because our name is Cross. The silent Night Cross is a very fine precious petite Christian cross. All four arms of the cross come to a perfect point. In the center is an oval blue sapphire surrounded by four high-white brilliant diamonds. The Silent Night Cross measures north to south 18mm, or ¾-inch. Our cross is 14 karat yellow gold and on its 18-inch gold chain lands two inches from your heart. Silent Night is a lovely expression of faith. In yellow gold this cross is ready to ship fast safe and free anywhere USA. White gold can be special ordered… approximately six weeks. We don’t make Silent Night in Silver.
Silent Night Star Cross
Two thousand years ago, a very long time ago. A star in the night sky shined bright. A point of light moving across the dark, through the velvet night sky. A light seen by many thousands around the world. A light of wonder so precise, so brilliant. It has touched and moved half the world of humanity for two thousand years. The Silent Night Cross is a testament to faith.
The Hymn: Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Silent Night was first sung in 1818. For over 200 years, this song has been a Christmas tradition in churches around the world.
What is the Message of Silent Night?
The lyrics of Silent Night have always carried an important message for Christmas Eve observances in churches around the world. The song’s lilting melody and peaceful lyrics also remind us of a universal sense of grace that transcends Christianity and unites people across cultures and faiths.
