All Christ followers have access to the light.
As I sit here typing my last post of the year, I remember that it’s December 21st, the longest night of the year. We have more hours of darkness on this day that any other day of the year. Starting tomorrow, the time of light gets a little longer everyday and the time of darkness gets less.
I think that today is a perfect day to reflect upon this past year. There are many that would argue that 2017 has been absolutely horrible. We have been barraged by hurricanes and ravaged by wildfires. We have suffered mass shootings. Our political landscape has been nothing but anger and hate spewing from both sides, and it seems that every time we turn on the news, there’s another sexual harassment scandal.
Yet, in all of that darkness, there’s been light as well.
Every disaster that hit us also bred stories of mercy and kindness. Strangers used boats, cars and everything at their disposal, to help those in need. They stood in lines; wrote checks and gave their own blood for their fellow Americans.
The sex scandals have at long last, resulted in justice for many people who have been victims for a long time.
Perhaps it’s by design that the longest period of darkness occurs right before the light bursts forth. Perhaps it’s important to truly acknowledge the darkness in order to fully appreciate the light.
There will always be a certain amount of darkness on this side of eternity. God’s people have an enemy who will see to it. Yet, we are called to remember that just the tiniest flicker of light can dispel the darkness and all Christ followers have access to that light. We also have the means to spread it.
Just yesterday, when I was out doing some last minute Christmas shopping, it was pouring down rain. An older woman stepped out of the store and dropped something out of her bag. No sooner than I had commented to my daughter about her misfortune, another woman came up and helped her get her things back in her bag.
Yes, there are beacons of light everywhere.
The longest night and a rain storm reminded me that wherever we find darkness, we have an opportunity to shine the light and make no mistake, the light wins. Perhaps you needed reminding too.
Have an awesome day! Have a Merry Christmas! Have a Happy New Year! See you in 2018!
Wendy 🙂