Christmas Eve Day dawned late, again, at almost eight, this morning, gray and misty. The temps are well above freezing and Lily's lilacs are budding... how sickening. I feel a little desperate about this brown Christmas. It feels all wrong and wonky, somehow, to me. I think I understand better the waiting world during those dark days when Jesus was born.
Waiting for longer days and more light is harder this year because there's no snow to dazzle the sunshine and to fling the light into our faces. Taking vitamin D is a poor substitute for sparkling light on snow.
So I talk about this yen for snow, only to discover that I wait in the darkness by myself. I'm realizing that many of the people in my world are happy about our snowless non-winter. I'm bewildered! I just want to know, folks, why do you live in Wisconsin?
Anyway, when Jesus came, the light dawned. Shepherds watching their flocks by night, their eyes adjusted to the darkness, were watching their sheep by night. They could see well enough for their job. No wonder they were frightened, at first, with the angel's light and voices.
What was it like, anyway, to do a birthing in a cave, at night? It doesn't take a lot of imagination to realize how dark it was in there just beyond the pool of lantern light where Joseph and Mary were catching a warm, slippery baby. Wrapping him round and round in a dry cloth. Clearing away the mess, getting the nursing going, and seeing the best miracle of wonder in their own arms.
Is it taking things too far to say that darkness can be a catalyst for light and joy? Think about morning after a storm, peace after war, the amazing rest beyond pain. What about Jesus' death and resurrection, isn't that it?
What if like Mary, I would learn to hope for light, better, in my times of darkness? To be content with the light I do have, to not fret the darkness behind the lantern light. To wait with faith and trust, hold the candle as high as needed. Till the day dawns.
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, II Peter 1:19
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