I Love Christmas Lights! Don't You?

            I’ve been working on my Christmas lights again this year.  Ella Rae loves the lights.  We have Rudolf, Rudolf’s daddy and Rudolf’s mamma. (Rudolf’s mamma has antlers, but that is just a minor detail—Ella Rae said it’s his mamma, so it’s his mamma) There is one deer eating G-mommy’s flowers and Ella Rae will point her finger at him and say, “NO!”  She helped put the lights on one of the outdoor trees. We have a bright Frosty the Snowman with all new lights, an Angel proclaiming the birth of baby Jesus and Santa Claus with his sparkling sleigh.  I’m planning to spend Friday putting the lights in the trees.  Hopefully, we can pick a good weather night right before Christmas for the kids to come out and see the lights. 

            Christmas lights are more than just a fun thing to do in December.  They have powerful significance.   My newspaper article in Saturday’s Dispatch (the one I almost missed) explains the significance of Christmas Lights. 

                        We are rapidly approaching the shortest day of the year, which will be on December 22 this year.  The darkness has gradually invaded our light since the 21^st day of June when we experienced 14 hours and 35 minutes of light.  Each day since then, the darkness has chipped away at the light, second by second, minute by minute, slowly and gradually.  Without us paying much attention, the light has lost considerable ground to the darkness.  It has happened so slowly that it is hard to believe that we have lost almost five hours of light!  Twelve days from now we will experience 14 hours and 17 minutes of darkness.  

            So, how will we commemorate this time of great darkness?  By celebrating the light, of course!

            In the opening words of the Bible, we are told that before creation, the world was without form and empty and darkness covered the face of the deep.  But into this blank, lifeless, gloomy, and dark emptiness, God thundered the words, “LET THERE BE LIGHT!”

            Light was the first word of creation.  When God saw the light he announced that the light was “good.”  Good is the word most translations use, but scholars tell us that “good” is too tame to capture the emotion of the Hebrew word.  A better word is “awesome.”   God saw that the light was awesome and he was thrilled!

            The amazing thing about the Genesis account of creation is that the Biblical writers were not scientists.  The word “photosynthesis” didn’t even exist.   They had never heard that light is essential for the process of life.  They didn’t know about the power of the sun.  Nor did they understand the psychological power of light and darkness.  A study was conducted in Fairbanks, Alaska where there is almost 21 hours of darkness this time of year and it was discovered that over 25% of the population suffered from sometimes disabling seasonal depression.  The same study was conducted in Sarasota, Florida and the figure was less than 2%.  

            The Biblical writers were men of faith who didn’t know all of this, but they did know that if you don’t have light, you don’t have life.  They knew that darkness had a negative effect on people.  Therefore it is no wonder that they understood the very first word of creation was light!

            Centuries later John the Gospel writer told of the true light that enlightens everyone coming into the world.  This light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overpower the light!  Jesus is the light which makes it fitting that we celebrate his birth during the darkest time of the year. 

            Darkness is real and powerful.  We have struggled through too much darkness in our community.  The Salvation Army is trying to provide Christmas for 1,660 children, many more than ever before.  Unemployment continues to be in double digits.  There are people who have been out of work for 2, 3, 4 years and more.  And most recently a rare November tornado devastated parts of our county leaving dozens homeless. 

            Yes, we understand the power of darkness, which is why the true light that shines in our darkness is so incredibly awesome!  No amount of darkness can diminish or overcome this light.  The Psalmist proclaimed, “Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”  (Psalm 139) 

            In God’s kingdom, the night is light.  In two weeks we will celebrate the birth of Jesus who is the light of the world!  The dark streets of Bethlehem were illuminated by the everlasting light!   Which brings me back to Christmas lights that are so important and appropriate.   The more Christmas lights the better because every light proclaims the coming of Jesus who is the true light conquering the darkness of our world. 

            I love Christmas lights, don’t you?