Friday, December 29, 2017

DECEMBER DE-LIGHT

December lights pierce the darkness as the  light-filled days of summer fade away.
Darkness clings to me . . . even where we are in the most southern part of mainland Florida . .  . as I continue to get up early for my morning walk.  

Dawn creeps in ever-so-slowly as I don my shorts and three layers: T-shirt, sweat shirt and windbreaker.

No one who lives down here for more than a few months
would dare step into whipping winds and wet salt water splashes.
But I promised myself that, if I do not have an early morning obligation that takes precedence, I will walk the beach daily.  

For one who does not like temperatures below 75 degrees with NO wind, braving 45 to 52 degrees with a swift breeze is my height of boldness.

I look forward to my breakfast on a tray filled with Christmas dishes.   I make a huge pot of tea each morning and sip it slowly as I read or relax on our little lanai.  
Christmas tea every day reminds me of the celebration we look forward to after weeks of waiting as we anticipate the  Advent of Christ’s birth.


We are suppose to wait quietly and prepare our souls for
the grand celebration of the coming of Christ, the 
new Light, at the end of dark December but the rest of the world did not get the memo.

Crazy shopping, Christmas Carols, Tuba Christmas in the middle of town, the Santa parade, decorated streets and all sorts of TV shows depicting Christmas scenarios light up the night sky that grows darker by the minute. 

 It’s all fun and wonderful but I wonder who celebrates their own birthday an entire month BEFORE the allotted day?  The past few years we barely finish the All Hallows Eve celebration before decorations go up in the stores.

What a wonder if we could allow the darkness to envelope us until the darkest day of the year . . .  very close to Christmas day.  
Then, as if someone pulled the switch, "Let there be light!"

If we review the creation story in Genesis, that’s exactly what God did when He spoke creation into being.  "In the beginning" there was nothing but God and then God Spoke.

God spoke light into the darkness.  
Darkness remained as the pitch of night but the days became gloriously illuminated  . . . and all that God created thrived in the sunlight.

What an awesome idea to pierce the darkness on one, single day . . .  all over our tiny little world.
That's what we should be doing on the day we celebrate Christ’s birth.  
On the very day we all celebrate Christ's birth . . .  all over the world . . .  we TURN ON THE LIGHTS!

We do this on New Year's Eve.  Every time zone waits until  midnight and then a frenzy of fireworks and celebration moves across thew world.  
Do we have it all backwards? 
 Or can we celebrate the same way for both grand events?

Currently, lights that are strung to look like trees, lights on trees and yards and homes, flood dark nights so that we sense that we are ‘walking in the light’ on vary dark, starless nights.

Hubby and I drive through a huge neighborhood of hardworking families.  
Hundreds of homes are decorated and each block has the same lit decoration on their mailbox.  It might be a tree, a candle, a star, a snowman or even Rudolph.  The people are told when they move to this very old development that they are expected to add to this annual celebration in some way.  

What joy it brings to see every single home with a few lights and each street following a different theme.  Even Menorah's were represented in various ways.
Our own home was filled with treasured gifts from the past such as this heart with tiny cross-stitch.

Manger scenes of all kinds: wood, blow-up, full size plastic
figures . . .  dot various homes.  I smile as I see Santa or snow men near a manger scene or, in one yard, a ballon-like hippopotamus.  Our own home has managers of all sizes, each with a very special story.

I tried to take pictures of as many homes as possible but cars were bumper to bumper and, even though we were going about 2 mph, we still had to move. 
 Hubby was a gem as he tried to stop as often as possible.

Hubby and I experienced some wonder-filled moments of light this month of December.  
Many lights still linger in the dark nights after Christmas day.  

It’s a sight to behold as we recall the words of John’s Gospel:
 “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God and the word became flesh and dwelt among us…”  God's Word continues to enlighten us to His unending love for us.


Every time we turn on a light, especially during these darkest weeks of the year, we are reminded of God’s gift of light in creation that gives life.  Jesus is the ‘new’ light that gives us life eternally.

This year I was able to take a bit more time to decorate our tiny abode.  The Advent calendar was easy to find.  
Each gem that appeared from our two plastic bins has a fond memory.  

Everything else has been given away.  My sister hand made most of what you see over many years. 

 I can never part with these treasures.

So, on with the LIGHTS . . .  Pictures say far more than words so enjoy.

May the light of Christ draw you more deeply into God's presence.
May the New Year be filled with light-hearted JOY and a brilliant future.

May the star lead your way forward and stop along your path when you need to take a breath.

May God send angels to affirm your path and prepare you to say "yes" to new opportunities and challenges.

May you find LIGHT-ness in each day to laugh and sing and remember precious moments that fill your heart.

May God fill you with curiosity to seek answers to hard questions and help you listen hard until you understand. 

May God open your heart to something new each day . . . something that you choose to tuck into your heart and savor for a very long time.

"Seek and you will find.  Knock and the door shall be opened onto you."






 "May God bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace."
 Numbers 6:24-26