When the Light Comes
Part of most churches at Christmas is the lighting of Advent candles. They are on the bus loaded with all the elements we recognize: Nativity sets, wreaths, carols, trimmed trees, stockings, presents. Tradition sees the Advent candles as representing the four weeks prior to Christmas and our preparation time for Jesus’ arrival. Each week has a theme: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.
Now we stand in the third week of Advent and the theme is Joy.
One way to look at these weeks preceding the coming of Jesus is seeing it all in the context of darkness overcome by light. Jesus, the light of the world, is who we look for and prepare for his arrival. When I squint, I can see the four themes form a progression for a saint to follow that leads to Jesus, not just in the manger but in every corner of any life.
Darkness to light.
Darkness can be pervasive, cold, fearful, disorienting, and unsettling. We can all agree there is plenty of darkness around, and also, bright light sometimes is hard to take after time in the shadows, but it’s in the light that we can see and be seen.
A walk through Advent can capture the truth that God is in the business of shining light into darkness, a divine journey. And God has done it from the beginning. From Genesis 1 where he calls forth light all the way through to the penultimate chapter in Revelation, darkness to light is God’s playbook. A quick survey shows this:
At the very beginning Genesis reports, “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light!’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.”
And eons later looking ahead, as prophets do, Isaiah says, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”
Then at the birth of John, the baptizer, hundreds of years on, his father sings his praise with, “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
And, three decades after that, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
Finally, when the new Jerusalem is in place with the King on the throne here on earth, Revelation thunders that Light has won every battle, “And the city will have no need for sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light….Its gates shall never be closed at the end of the day because there is no night or day there.”
Darkness to Light. And from the belief that, in its proper time, Light will forever shine, the four Advent themes can serve any believer as they navigate their own dark days. Let’s trace this idea through the four themes.
Light Brings Hope. We all know darkness and how it can drain life out of life. The hollow help that a Christian cliche’ uttered by a well-meaning friend, can barely scratch the surface of the pain, fear, disorientation that comes with darkness. But true hope is confidence in God that it’s all true and his love and care is real in your dark place just as much as it was for Jesus in his. Hope is our anchor. Hope is looking through any situation to the God standing as a strong tower reminding he’s got this.
Hope Breeds Peace. When Paul writes in Colossians for believers to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” it is as much an invitation as direction. Like plants bending to the lighted window in winter then flourishing, so we, as we source our trust in Jesus, will experience a peace that passes all reasonable thought. You have seen it in the faces of people who are hard pressed but radiant and calm. It’s an invitation that calls for releasing anxiety and falling into the arms of a good, good father.
Peace Unleashes Joy. In one of the psalms of lament, #94, the writer pens, “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and joy.” Times of doubt are natural and normal. In the midst of doubt and trouble true joy can be found in the larger story of God at work in every part of life, including all the jagged edges of mine. Joy shouldn’t be confused with happiness, rather it resides soul deep then splashes up to every corner of what you inhabit as the truth hoped in produces a crazy peace. From there joy is unleashed in one’s heart.
And finally, the last candle shows that Joy Unclogs Love. As we move ahead in our darkness but with our way illuminated by the Light we are filled with trusting hope in God. The peace and then joy that supernaturally follow unclog pipes that get slowed by self-protection and worry, and love can flow. Vertically first where a love conversation is free between you and God, and then horizontally out to your world. This love freely given grows out of the former three themes. Turned loose like this, loving Jesus-followers scatter light in every direction.
So, let’s free up Advent to do more than just mark the days left for shopping and planning gatherings, but maybe, just maybe, serve as a launching pad to a deeper walk with the One coming as a baby, who would grow into a teacher and finish as a savior of the world. These themes, when allowed to do their work in our hearts, prepare us to face our darkness with the confidence sourced in the great mystery of light shining, and darkness not able to stand against it.
Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. To each one reading this, let them be yours this Christmas and all the years of your life.
Music is so good
…and not-so-funny funnies
Occasionally, airline attendants make an effort to make the “in-flight safety lecture,” and their other announcements, a bit more entertaining.
Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:
“Smoking in the lavatories is prohibited. Any person caught smoking in the lavatories will be asked to leave the plane immediately.”
After landing: “Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride.”
“Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the bag over your own mouth and nose before assisting children or adults acting like children.”
“As you exit the plane, please make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.”
“Last one off the plane must clean it.”
A flight attendant’s comment on a less than perfect landing: “We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.”
Part of a Flight Attendant’s arrival announcement: “We’d like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you’ll think of us here at US Airways.”
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At this week’s family history and tradition class, the teacher asked the young class how to describe old folks.
Olivia raised her hand and answered, “Over the Hill.”
“Yes, good answer,” said the teacher.
“Yes, Johnny, do you have another nickname?”
“Long in the Toot,” Johnny responded.
The teacher corrected him. “You meant Long in the Tooth, didn’t you?”
“Not at all, you never been behind my Grandpa, have you?”
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Dear Santa, All I want is a fat bank account and a skinny body. Please don’t mix it up again like last year!