I was in the car at night on Christmas Eve going to Mass. I looked out the window and saw a star. Around this star were clouds tinted with red from the lights below. I thought about the Child Jesus as the star and about the lights of the world below trying to outshine this beauty. God is the source of all beauty. But the world tries to outshine Him.

The silent, still darkness
Tick, tick, tick
of the kitchen clock
Shadows and quiet
Moonbeams through the window
drenching the smooth floor
in silver

Soft carpet,
hushed wind,
dark room
illuminated by colored lights
yellow and blue and red and green
strung around, weaving along the branches
of a tall evergreen
Twinkling silver and gold
hung on every bough
Glowing, magical
Soundless, beautiful
mysterious, wonder