Day 5

Isaiah 9: 2

The people who walked in darkness

   have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

   on them light has shined.

Illumination

Let’s face it, most of us here in Dringhouses don’t actually experience real darkness, even at this time of year. Outside there are too many street lights and houses with Christmas decorations in them. And inside, even in the darkness of our bedrooms there’s probably a phone or alarm that glows in the corner.

So the drama of this image of Christmas is in danger of being a bit lost. But in our world, and maybe inside us too if we are honest, it does sometimes feel as if things are pretty dark: Wars, famine, injustice, poverty, trafficking, environmental disasters, personal failures, depressing gloom inside. And then there is this Christmas message of a great light. Jesus comes to earth to show us how things really are. To illuminate the way forward. To bring hope for our world and for us in our mixed up lives. Sometimes gentle, and sometimes blazing bright.

Charles