Follow the Light

Follow the Light

            My Christmas season started in October this year. I didn’t know it at the time. That day, October 20, I was just shocked and saddened by the loss of a young friend who died unexpectedly.

            About two weeks later, I awoke to hear the results of our nation’s election. I do not wish to be political here, but I was devastated. Not because I have hope in any man’s ability to lead our nation, but I felt that these results signaled the end of the greatness of my country and of my blessed way of life here. This, too, was an unrecognized part of my Christmas celebration this year.

            Early November also brought my birthday, and I was still mourning for my country and my friend’s family when an unexpected ray of light came into my day. Reminding me where my hope and foundation lie, my husband gave me a gorgeous, illustrated copy of the gospels. http://www.makotofujimura.com/four-holy-gospels/ .  The breath-taking beauty of this gift helped me as I refocused my eyes on my Savior.

            During the rest of November, two other significant things added their hidden meaning. First, to my additional distress, I heard of a rash of local suicides and other demonstrations of sorrow and hopelessness. Second, I was a tester of a new product – acrylic paints and mediums – and was required to paint daily. (Such a blessing!) I worked on a painting that was taking shape so nicely – I was loving it!

            Finally, in mid-November, I began to recognize what has become a predominant theme in my thinking during this season. I began to recognize the tremendous hopelessness, darkness, and despair in this world as the dark backdrop against which the tiny Baby, the ray of pure, hopeful light, entered our planet’s routine. I knew these words before – all my life I have sung the carols and read the Gospel representation of HIS coming. But this year, I feel it. The enormity, the burden, the blackness of the never-ending cycle of daily life. The desperate realization that things will never REALLY be better. THIS, my friends, is why the KING of the Universe wrapped Himself in our tiny, ordinary flesh. To rescue us from our sin and our despair. To give us hope and assurance of final victory.

            In response to this insight, there have already been two opportunities for me to respond and celebrate HIS coming. Last week, we as a worship team at our church arranged our part of the service to express the melancholy, dark, unsettling backdrop of sin, followed by the victory of Christ’s coming, death, and resurrection on our behalf. It was a new and intriguing way to arrange Christmas music, and was illuminating to me and expressed my sense of awe and worship to my KING.

                        And my painting that I was working on. I love the way it has turned out, (and I hope to do a series based on this one). There is hope and light against a dark background, a representation of the cross, and one of the manger which held the Light of the World on that holy night.

            More than anything, I want to follow that ONE Who came to rescue me. I want to follow the Light.

Coram Deo,

Brenda