Saturday, December 19, 2020
INEXTINGUISHABLE
SCRIPTURE READING: Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out. John 1:5 (MSG)
I can’t remember how old I was, but I was too young to miss the fun or the humor of it all. To me it was more like a mean joke, and shouldn’t birthdays be free of anything like that? Probably around five years old or so, I delighted in the exciting moment when I was asked to take a deep breath, make a wish, and blow out the candles on my birthday cake. That special day, I inhaled until I could hold no more, scrunched up my eyes and face in deep thought of a desired fantasy, and then with all the force my little body could muster, I blew out the candles. Success!!! Yes! They all went out! Until. . .they all lit up again.
Not understanding, I got my bearings, reassumed my stance, took my breath and... it happened again...and again! What was going on and why was everyone chuckling? This was not how it was supposed to happen! As my frustration grew, someone—either my mother or my older sister—explained that the candles were special. They were made to never go out. Until they made contact with water, they’d keep re-igniting regardless of my determined efforts. I wasn’t a fan.
While I still don’t appreciate the attributes of trick birthday candles, there is another source of inextinguishable light for which I do give thanks. Time and time again, Jesus’ light has led me safely along a path that was dim and uncertain. I fall to my knees in immense gratitude when I consider the joy and security I have in Jesus’ enduring Life-Light! Because of his faithfulness, I have come to know that in any time of personal darkness—loss, rejection, betrayal, or failure--
I am guided by an Eternal Light that will never be extinguished. I know that in times of collective darkness—political unrest, global illness, and unjust oppression--my Life-Light will never stop blazing out into the night! How glad I am to know that there is nothing that can snuff out the brilliant life-giving radiance of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
PRAYER: As the days grow short and our hours of light diminish this winter season, let us not be discouraged, for we know that you, O Jesus, are the Light who remains vibrant and strong. Help us to remember that no darkness we encounter—whether it be the gloom of sin and sadness or merely the shadows of winter—nothing can ever put out your loving Light. Amen.
Reverend Erin Maurer
