The deep darkness, even in cheer of this holiday season, the frozen desolation of winter, heartache of regret and isolation from friends and family can make Christmas seem more of a burden than a gift. We barricade ourselves from the joyful news of Christ's birth, which equates hope and a direct path to redemption, with doubt. How could their be a God, let alone one that cares for us, when we live in a world of war, murder, hate, bigotry, sickness, suffering, oppression?
Yet rejoice, for Christ works through our brokenness, binding our wounds and healing our souls. Christ himself suffered in the world, dying on the cross...in this Christ shows us that he did not come to eradicate suffering of the flesh, but to offer us a way through, a light to lead us out of the darkness...the gift of Christ is eternal life as well as the spirit of grace, forgiveness, mercy and the peace that only God can provide, a peace that stirs our souls to turn away from sin to truth, hate to love, despair to hope.
Even the faintest of lights can pierce through the darkness. The smallest of stars blots out the abyss of night. I think it is telling that God used a star to guide the gentile Magi to Christ and signal the coming of the Messiah. Yes, this was no ordinary star, still we can identify with the power and wonder of a twinkling star in the night, a guidepost. Our own earth sustaining light, the sun, is a star...imagine if God created such light and light has the power to thwart darkness, the power even in the deepest of sorrow to plant joy in our hearts, to guide us out of trial into safety.
I think it is interesting that God's natural laws have the first day of winter be the shortest time of year. Yes winter is known for long, frigid days marred by gray skies and darkness. It even causes some, particularly in the Northwest to develop seasonal affective disorder...Yet winter actually proves that with each passing day, the light lasts a little longer. Winter is a journey to summer and isn't a road to darkness, rather to light...
Even as we come to celebrate Christ's birth, life's road isn't easy. It isn't meant to be, yet through the light of Christ we are refined by trial, able to maneuver life's darkest places with faith and a living hope that Christ is born, Christ is risen and Christ will come again.
The light of the world pales in comparison to the eternal light of Christ. It blinds us sometimes past comprehension, the glorious power we fall humbly before, it kindles our hearts and sustains our soul. Rejoice, for we have seen a great light - Christ is born!
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