Dark...and Light

Christmas is most tangible  for me at night with a blue black sky sprinkled with stars and a chill in the air that causes me to snuggle into my coat or, better yet, closer to someone I love. 

Maybe it is because my mother would drive us around to look at Christmas lights in the old Vega with a Christmas 8 track playing while me would lay in the back watching stars pass. Maybe it’s because I would walk to the local church for midnight mass when I sung in the choir. Maybe it is just the nativity is set at night. 

Many faiths celebrate light at this time of year. The druids, pagans, and those who worship the old gods celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day which is followed by progressively longer daylight. Many of Jewish heritage celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, also called the Light if the world. People greet the sun in nature while Christmas lights and menorah candles are lit to celebrate. 

But these lights were only found in contrast with the darkness.

Light a lamp in a bright room & you probably won’t notice any change. Light a lamp in a dark room & it will fill the room with its glow, shrugging off the darkness. I have heard and overheard women who are in darkness this holiday season. Brave and amazing women who are shouldering more than they think they can without breaking-losses and separations, consequences of someone’s sin. 

When the holidays are rotten because of hurts and brokenness and injustice, I remember that they are actually holy days. Gone, at least for now, are the easy, ride-in-the-back-watching-stars nights. These are nights of questions, prayer, & restlessness. These are nights of praying with hope but without expectation. 

A long time ago, in a small town very far away, there was a long night of waiting. Then the Light of the world arrived, not a light but the Light. 

The people who walk in darkness 

will see a great light.

 For those who live 

in a land of deep darkness,

a light will shine.

  Isaiah 9:2

We need the Light. I do. Bring Your light into these dark nights, Lord. Dispel this darkness and illuminate the way forward. Heal these wounds and deformities of our spirits‘, the injuries incurred in the dark. We need you, the Light of this world. When everything is wrong, I know that it is You I can cling to for all of You is right. Give us today Your light. Amen.