Light Will Come.....

There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them.

Luke 2:9

Yesterday, we sat in the glorious twinkle of our beautiful tree. There were a few candles lit, the fire was also giving off a warm glow, but it was the beautiful twelve foot tree with its hundreds of twinkling lights that bathed the room in sparkling light. It was early so we had the lights down low to adjust to the new day. All of a sudden, there was a flicker, and the lights on the tree disappeared! Jim fiddled with the connections, we checked up into the tree to make sure everything was plugged in—they were. Yet the tree was still dark. 

After a few minutes of fussing in exasperation, Jim called the number for this guaranteed-to-stay-lit-tree. The tech determined we needed a new part. They promised to send us one in ten to twelve days. “What!” I fumed. “Christmas will be nearly over! We’re having company tomorrow night. This isn’t at all what I wanted!” After a few more moments of conversation with this crisp voice most likely in India where they don’t celebrate Christmas anyway, Jim convinced him to overnight our needed part. We shall see if it comes in time for our gathering. 

Still frustrated, I glanced over at the shelf where a small light was focused on the nativity set nearby. It seemed bright, even in the darkened room. And it reminded me how dark our world would be without the Savior of the world entering our space. Our beautiful tree is dark. And the world is dark. But there is hope, right around the corner. Born in a little town wa-a-a-y across the world, a Savior was born. It most likely was quite dim. Little did most people know, the Light of the World was in that space.  

We will have light again on our tree. We will either pack it back into its boxes and get another one from the store. Or we’ll wait for that part. Either way, we can glance at the little stable and see the intense light. And the promise of a Savior.