Overcome

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can not overcome it. -John 1:5

If ever there was a dark day, it is Dec 21 - the winter solstice - the day I am writing this blog. Not only has it been gray all day, it’s only 4pm and the sun is already going down. I know that from this day right through June, each day will get longer and each night shorter, but for a while, we’re really in the depths of winter.

And this Christmas week seems dark for other reasons, as well. We’re still greatly impacted by the pandemic, and we are at a distance from our friends and loved ones. Our celebrations are muted and even our church buildings are quiet. Someone described this Christmas to me as ‘bleak’ recently. But I need to remember that as faithful people we proclaim that the light shines in the darkness, even when it’s hard to discern. And the darkness can not overcome it. Our Christmas traditions all point to this light, from candles in our Advent wreaths to lights on the tree to the star of Bethlehem.

Our Blue Christmas service on Wednesday night will be particularly meaningful to me this year. While we all have different circumstances in life, we are together in our grief, because everyone has lost something this year. The holiday season can be a difficult time to grieve because everyone else seems to be ho ho ho’ing. But this year, we’re all more muted. So on Wednesday we’ll gather together in the darkness to assure one another that the light is still shining.

And at 5pm on Christmas eve, we’ll be thinking about Dr. Seuss’ famous character the Grinch, who did everything he could to steal Christmas away. We’ll proclaim that the Covid grinch cannot keep Christmas from coming. Despite our losses, among them the loss of our usual traditions, Christmas will nonetheless arrive, and we will sing with joy right along with those faithful Who’s.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. If you are away from loved ones, stay close to them through your prayers. And reach out to friends by phone or online to share the light and the love in the midst of the darkness. For the word has become flesh, and lives among us!

I’ve noticed more outdoor Christmas lights than ever this season. To me, they are more than just fun this year. They are a true sign of hope - hope in that light that shines in the darkness. You and I are light Christmas lights. How will we shine in the darkness?