“Light of the world,
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made my heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with Thee.”
Tim Hughes
At night, in this time of winter solstice, bright lights of Christmas celebration festively adorn my neighbour’s trees and houses. I love the magic and mystery of light in the darkness. By day, winter sunshine spills through my windows. Light and shadow interplay and I soak up the sunshine, appreciating it all the more since there is so much less of it.
Without light, there are no beautiful rainbow colours. Without light, there is no growth. Without light, there is no vision, and we stumble around in the night, both literally and metaphorically. Without light, we would not have life.
On the night Christ was born, the angels’ celebration lit up the whole sky. The wise men followed a bright star in the sky to worship this King. Jesus, the Light of the World, gave up his heavenly privileges to fully participate in our humanity. He came to light up our way, so that we will never have to walk alone in darkness or sorrow or despair.
“I heard the voice of Jesus say,
I am this dark world’s light
Look unto me, your morn shall rise
And all your days be bright.
I looked to Jesus and I saw,
In him my Star, my Sun
And in that light of life, I’ll walk
Till traveling days are done.
Fernando Ortega | Horatius Bonar | John Bacchus Dykes
Wishing you all the blessings of Christmas!
