Tom Seymour

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Renewal, The Coming Light

Luke 1: 78, 79 
By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 
To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

Our physical body needs renewing on a regular basis. The food we eat provides us with nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Without such nourishment, we will eventually perish. But has it occurred to you that our spiritual being also needs renewing? It’s true, and God has provided a way. And that way is manifested in our worshiping together.

Among other things we do to renew our spiritual selves is to light our Advent candles. These symbolize the passage from darkness to light. This light is the spiritual food we need, that which nourishes our souls.

This time of short days and long nights affects us all to some degree. But for many, it has a profound effect. Seasonal Affective Disorder, I’m told, is the name for this. It makes us feel tired, drug out, listless, unproductive and generally not ourselves. This pretty much describes me at this time of year.

This all brings to mind the Latin motto, “Sine, Sole, Sileo” which translated means, “Without the sun I am silent.” We Christians might make a play on words by spelling “sun” with an o rather than a u.

Now, I can sit in my office, at my computer, for an hour and type only two or three paragraphs. And even these come hard. Whereas in spring and summer, that same hour would see pages and pages of useable prose. I’m not alone here. I’ve noticed, though, that soon after Christmas, this ennui loses its hold. The doldrums lessen and soon, I’m my old self.

I think if I were looking to buy a new car, I would make sure to not buy one made in November or December. Caveat Emptor. Buyer beware the fruits of this dark season.

Other than basking in what little natural light we might find, or perhaps gazing at a special electric light, one designed to mimic natural sunlight, there’s little we can do to combat the physical stress of these long nights and short days. But there is plenty that we can do to nourish, support, encourage and sustain our spiritual bodies.

This theme of coming from darkness to light echoes through the ages and is present in a great number of the hymns and carols we sing at Christmas time. Consider, “While Shepards Watched Their Flocks.” It goes, “While shepards watched their flocks by night all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down and glory shone (the light) around. ‘Fear not,’ said he, for mighty dread (the darkness) had seized their troubled mind, ‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all man-kind.’”

The greenery with which we decorate our homes and our church symbolizes the everlasting life available to all through faith in Jesus Christ. While some trees and plants (deciduous) lose their leaves in fall, others, (evergreen) remain green all year. They remind us that though the darkness may encompass us, the light is always there.

We put little electric lights on our trees. In days past, they used candles. What do these lights represent, if not the coming light, the light from heaven sent to earth for us all?

Other cultures in the Christian world have different practices, but these are designed with the same desired outcome. For instance, on Christmas morning in the Shetlands, those windswept and remote Scottish islands, farmers get up in the early morning darkness, go to the byre and light a candle placed in the eye socket of a cow’s skull. By this light, they feed their animals and do their chores. Then, back inside, they breakfast upon little cakes, pinched all around to resemble the sun’s rays. These are called “Yule brunnies” and having them on Christmas morning is as if to eat the sun in the dead of winter.

Although the days grow shorter, astronomically speaking, remember that beginning on the first day of winter, spring begins to pitch and jump in the womb of time.

So although the hours of darkness yet increase with every russet sunrise and cold, gray sunset, each passing day brings us closer to the coming light from heaven. This paradox, if we can rightly understand it, works to our benefit, according to God’s plan. Knowing ahead that the light of the world will soon shine on us and renew our spirits as well as our bodies, allows us to prepare for this blessed moment.

Let us think on these things. Jesus, born so long ago in a lowly manger, is the light of all lights, the shining glory of God come to redeem us and wipe away all our tears and erase every fear. Ask yourself, did I seek Jesus this past year? Did I walk in his word? Is Jesus lord of my life?

Fortunately for us, even if we answered “no” to any of these questions, we have another year, another chance, yet one more opportunity to walk in the light. What a blessing this is. And it’s coming soon.

Has the past year been difficult? For many it has. But even in the midst of trials and tribulations, we can look to the light and find refuge. We can welcome God back into our lives and he will shine his light so that we can see to walk uprightly and with peace, joy and contentment.

God, through his divine plan, gives us yet another chance to welcome him, and his healing love back into our lives. Let us then proclaim a new year, a bright, light-filled new year in God, through his gift to us of Jesus the Christ.