After enjoying a delicious brunch, women from our Wednesday morning life group gathered in a circle where we displayed a treasured Christmas decoration from our homes and shared Christmas traditions that were especially meaningful to us. One of the women, Artie, held up a little pom-pom ornament made of yarn.
Then, Artie related the story of her ornament as she reminisced about the Christmas when she and her husband were stationed in Germany. As newlyweds, they had rented a two room, little attic apartment in the home of a German family. Located on the third floor of the home, they had low ceilings, a small window overlooking the village and shared a bathroom with their German landlords. Like most newlyweds, they did not have a lot to spend on decorations and gifts. That year, Artie decorated her tree with yarn pom-poms like the one she held in her hand, can lids covered in foil and other hand-made ornaments.
Christmas brings a longing for home and family gatherings. When the landlord family downstairs invited the couple to join them at their Christmas Eve service, they were happy to be included. It was a short, brisk walk to the church and although the service was in German, they instantly recognized what the children were doing onstage and rejoiced as the nativity scene unfolded before them. At the close of the service, each person was given a candle. The candles were lit one by one as the flame was passed one to another. But instead of extinguishing the candles before leaving the church, each person walked out of the church doors and up the hilly village streets while carefully shielding their candles. Tradition dictated that each person was to bring their lit candle into their home.
Artie said the beauty of that night is still a highlight of her Christmas memories. As she walked back home to her apartment holding her candle, Artie watched as the candlelight was carried by others throughout the village…scattered spots of bright light shining in the darkness. A sight to behold!
This image has stayed in my heart throughout the Christmas holidays. As Pastor Joel begins our new sermon series on Light in the Darkness, a study of the Gospel of John, it is a wonderful visual for us to ponder. Are we taking Jesus, the Light of the World back to our own homes, letting Him shine in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces, in traffic, in the grocery store?
Light dispels the darkness. If I told someone to turn on the light, what would happen? They might switch on a light switch or turn on a lamp. But if I told them to turn on the dark, what would they do? The only choice they would have would be to extinguish the light. Therein lies the power of our enemy…to try to diminish, distort and destroy our knowledge, belief and reflection of Christ in this world.
John 1:4-5 says this, “In Him [Jesus] was life and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” As Christ followers, may we let His light shine in us for all to see.
