Dark.

We begin this advent season, with a well-known scripture.

Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Our problem is that there is, at least in cities, less and less darkness. We live amid brightly lit shop windows, trees already decorated and twinkling, numerous school productions and social gatherings. They are all very lovely and beautiful. But sometimes, to truly appreciate light, we need to see it from a place of darkness.

Of course, light comes in many forms. Electric bulb, candle, even a congestion of information that we describe as enlightenment. We often have too much of our own manufactured light. And that sometimes obscures our view.

How can we, in this Advent season, focus on that great light that is coming, when our lives are so well lit.

Value darkness. Use it. Find a place where, just for a moment, we stand outside the light. The Isaiah verse reminds us that from that place, the light that we see from afar, is then described as “great”.

Remember life BC in your life. This is Advent. To stand in the Old Testament, as BC people. Using our imagination, momentarily remembering what life was like, before we knew Christ, before the great light brightened our hearts. As we imagine ourselves once again in that place of wanting and waiting, we look for His coming. We look for the great light, that lightens all things.

Prayer

(Take a moment to breath. Be still. Allow the Holy Spirit to come and find pace with your breath)

The child waiting to be born, demands a response. For God so loved the world, that He sent His son, to bring light to our darkness.

You Lord are our Lamp. You brighten our darkness. Your Word is a lamp to our feet. You bring light to our path, our lives.

We are thankful. Once again, we pray, “come, saviour of the world. Bring your light. Lighten our darkness”.

Amen.