The lights, music, laughter, gatherings of friends and family, these are the things many of us cherish in this season of Advent, as we prepare for the coming of Christ into the world.  But for many, this is a time of great darkness, when the Christmas lights only seem to make the world less bright, the music painfully sad, and the loneliness beyond measure.  It is for these that Christ came - for the poor, the marginalized, the outcast, the deserted, the lonely.  The Psalmist, writing in a time of exile, beautifully expresses the hope that is there for us all in those darkest nights of our lives.  God is our "rock of refuge" from the pain that can sometimes envelop us.  But if we read the psalm fully we see that two things are clear - we seek God, and we give ourselves over to God.  This isn't an easy thing to do for those of us today driven to organize and manage our lives that we can receive email, calendar alerts, messages, and calls from just about every device we carry or have around us.  We even have them in church.  It might seem preposterous, even heretical, but perhaps in this season of Advent, a time that is supposed to be for reflective preparation, we should set those things aside.  Okay, so maybe we can't do that all the time, but perhaps one day a week, or even an hour a day (and especially in church), and give ourselves over to the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps then, when we are not so distracted, in that stillness, we will hear the cry of those whose hearts are in deep despair, and we will hear the call of Christ to spread his light into this dark and dispirited world.  Perhaps then we will truly understand the reason for the season, and our hearts will be overflowing with joy in welcoming Christ, born in us anew.