LIGHT
“Arise, shine,
for your light has come; and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you (Isaiah
60:1).”The depth of
night had surrounded them. They were
exhausted after days of travel followed by hours of birthing labor. The babe slept in His mother’s arms. Even the animals slept in the shadows as
darkness rested over the land. Dawn began, light slowly breaking over the
horizon. The glory of the LORD had risen
not just as the sun rose upon the earth that morning, but upon all mankind
for all time. God Himself, revealed
to the word as an infant, yet with all His splendor; LOVE manifested – Word
become flesh, full of grace and truth. We
celebrate the coming of the LIGHT. This
LIGHT is more than a yearly celebration.
The LIGHT is a daily invitation… Every
morning, the darkness of night turns to day.
No matter what the night has held… exhaustion, fatigue, restlessness,
anxiety, fear… light comes.
…. a wave of
darkness in the form of anxiety and panic overtakes. It becomes a struggle to breathe with a
sudden feeling of nausea. The heart
races and there is a struggle to catch a breath. The depression and anxiety though felt deeply
– is hidden from other’s view.
… darkness
overshadows the holiday – loss is greatly felt in the midst of what is supposed
to be a joyous holiday.
… the darkness
of uncertainty looms over the family -choices over which bills should be paid
first overwhelm; there seems to be a sense of hopelessness for the future with
the feeling of never being able to keep up with costs of living.
… darkness
weighs upon the parent’s heart as the child struggles – when a child is in pain
– the parent hurt’s just as much and the feeling helplessness to ease suffering
weighs heavily upon one’s very being.
… mourning
still overcomes the mother’s heart – at times she is seemingly ambushed by
memories that overwhelm suddenly, losing a child goes against the natural order
of life.
… mankind
struggles as a race, as a society – the darkness overwhelms with war, hatred,
contempt, animosity, division, ‘wokeness’ that causes intellectual and
spiritual discrimination without true tolerance or freedom - all resulting in
individual isolation, hopelessness …darkness.
Yet “the people
living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the
shadow of death a light has come (Matthew 4:16)”. The LIGHT of Christmas penetrates any
darkness we may live under in this world.
No matter circumstance - our attention, our hearts, our minds… our hope is
enlightened, strengthened, comforted… satisfied.
“This is the
message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is LIGHT; in Him there is no darkness at
all.” (1 John 1:5)
“The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
It is my prayer
for you to know LIGHT will come. To know that even the darkest place gives way
to LIGHT. May the LIGHT of His LOVE provide you with reassurance as the
smallest of glimmers draw you mind and heart into LIGHT. Each day, may you accept the LIGHT’s
invitation to find the PEACE, HOPE, JOY and LOVE in which you can rest assured…
in this moment, in moments to come, and eternally.
