The loud ring of his decades old wind-up alarm clock catapults him out of blissful slumber as it does every morning at 4:15 AM. In a deep state of dopiness he turns the light on, wraps himself in his bathrobe, slips into house shoes and commences with his morning ritual. He starts in the hallway – lights on, then the bathroom – lights on, shuffles to the kitchen – lights on, followed by the dining room – lights on, and finally all the lamps in the living room – lights on. With his morning mission accomplished he makes his way back to his bedroom, re-sets the alarm for 7:30, turns the light off and slips back into bed and quickly is out cold.
The pastor in this small town learned early in his tenure that farm folks are up early. He also learned from side comments at church that many of his sunrise-loving parishioners drove by his home in the early morning and couldn’t help but notice that it appeared that their new pastor liked to sleep in ‘late’. In this neck of the woods that was tantamount to slothfulness.
Deeply concerned with any negative first impressions that he was bringing to his new flock, the young pastor reached out to the pastor from his childhood church. Within just a few seconds of relaying this restless predicament, the senior pastor began to chuckle and then offered, “Your folks just want to know you’re there for them when they need you. How about you leave the light on.” And that is when the lightbulb came on for the young pastor…I’m going to leave the light on – all of them!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
There is no shortage of darkness in our own lives and in the world. As such, we all need assurance that the darkness is not going to overcome us. We all need to know that there is a light that is left on for us…That is THE gift of Christmas, “In him was life, and the life was the light…the light shines in the darkness.” THE Light that is always on for us.
And here’s the thing, THE gift, THE Light, shines in and through each of us. “It is in everybody, and if we could see it, we would see these billions of points of light coming together in the face and blaze of the sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely.” – Thomas P McDowell. Our gift is to leave the THE Light on in us so all know THE Light is always on for everyone.
May love and laughter
Light your days
And warm your heart and home;
May good and faithful friends be yours
Wherever you may roam;
May peace and plenty bless your world
With joy that long endures;
May all life’s passing seasons
Bring the best to you and yours!
~ Traditional Irish Blessing
Merry Christmas!