I can’t remember what year it was in the 90’s that there was a full moon on Christmas eve but I had told a friend of mine that I was coming to her house at 10 PM to grab her 14 year-old daughter, for a mid-night ride. The snow on the ground and full moon would be a perfect experience for the horse-crazy teen and I could use the company that night, since my kids were with their dad for the holiday.
I saddled up my mare and took Star with me, so Anna could ride her. She had taken a liking to the mare that summer and was comfortable with her, so I knew she would feel safe riding in the dark, or rather, in low light. I hauled the horses over to pick up Anna and we put her saddle on Star and headed out into the pasture.
Once our eyes became accustom to the low light, we started noticing things and then we noticed how silent it was. Oh sure, we could see and hear the trucks and cars on the highway, three miles away but there was a distance in that sound. The crunch of the re-frozen snow that was a foot deep was more of a squeak sound and the air bit the face.
For a while we visited back and forth and then we just silently watched our surroundings and gazed at the starry sky from time-to-time. It was a perfect ride. We both took turns wondering out loud about that first Christmas night and which star it was that shone so bright. We also wondered how cold it was in that barn, which really was more or less a lean-to shed. It couldn’t have been that warm, even with lots of animals in the shed, an open side meant it was still pretty chilly.
We saw a coyote running across the draw that was below us and then we noticed a skunk waddling along, unaware or not caring that we were watching from the top of the hillside. Every now and again, we would hear a coyote yipping in the distance, being answered by a reply further down the valley, that followed the river. For all the noise, it was still silent in a way that I cannot explain. What I can say is, that the meaning of Silent Night was perfectly clear to me.
By the time we got back to Anna’s house, it was just after mid-night and we had ridden at least six miles. We were cold but the hot chocolate Anna’s mom had waiting for us warmed us up immediately. I don’t know who was more excited about the ride, Anna or myself. For once in my life, I truly felt that I understood the complete meaning of that Silent Night song. I drove home with a peace in my heart that I had not had for years.
Every now and again, as the opportunity arises, I take advantage of a mid-night ride, when there is snow on the ground. The silence of the night and the peace that it gives to me is precious and I treasure this feeling.
It is my hope and prayer that you too can experience this Silent Night Peace that I have experienced. Just taking a walk on a snow covered night when there is a full moon around Christmas time is magical. May you have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.