Post Christmas reflection seven: Dreariness

Malcolm Duncan’s nite blessing for today is really helpful…

May you see Hope where others see despair 

May you see Light where others see only shadows 

May you hear the whisper of new beginnings when others hear the voice of fading dreams 

May God give you grace, and may you receive a fresh gift of faith and hope for today.

As Christmas decorations are slowly being taken down it’s getting very dark out there again. We’ve had nativity figures on the roof of the church at Harrogate Road. Their light could be seen from quite a distance. They were dismantled yesterday and the church and its grounds are dark. It’s a dreary wet day today and maybe it feels like darkness is the norm again. 

But, remember this: the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light shines and the darkness cannot overcome it. Arise, shine, your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. The light of Christ shines everyday. Even when thick darkness and gloom seem to be winning. 

Here’s a nice story for you:

Burdened by his inability to reach out to people in their time of need as his church was locked down during the pandemic, one resourceful pastor thought of his church’s magnificent stained glass windows. Those windows faced a main street and many people passed by the church everyday.

The pastor had numerous floodlights placed inside the church; the light shining through the glass to the outside world gave passers-by the full effect of the windows’ story.

There for all to see were the timeless portrayals of Jesus:

• Jesus the good shepherd carrying a lamb;
• Jesus the searching Saviour rescuing the lone lost sheep while the ninety-nine rested safely in the fold;
• Jesus praying in Gethsemane;
• Jesus on the cross;
• Jesus risen from the dead.

 These windows were silent sermons of light and stained glass.

People who passed by the church would stop reverently, silently. They found themselves filled with new determination and encouragement. In the darkness that filled their lives the light streaming from those windows the words of Isaiah took on new meaning, “Your sun shall no more go down, neither shall your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended” (Isaiah 60:20)

May you see Hope where others see despair 

May you see Light where others see only shadows 

May you hear the whisper of new beginnings when others hear the voice of fading dreams 

May God give you grace, and may you receive a fresh gift of faith and hope for today.

There was a story about a church that was built way in the highest mountains of Switzerland. It was a beautiful church that had been built with great care by the villagers who lived nearby. But there was one thing that the church didn’t have. It didn’t have any lights. You couldn’t just go into the church and switch on the lights like we would be accustomed to doing. Yet, every Sunday evening the people who lived on the mountain-side opposite the tiny church saw something remarkable happen. The church bell would ring and worshippers would make their way up the mountainside towards the church. They would enter the church and then all of a sudden, the church would light up brightly. Why do you think that happened?

You see, the people had to bring light with them – so they brought lanterns. When they arrived at church they would light their lanterns and hang them around the church on pegs set into the walls, so the light would spread all around and all through the church. If only a few people came to church the light would be very dim because there would only be a few lanterns. But when lots of people came to the church there would be plenty of light.

 After the service the villagers would take their lanterns home. At this time, to those who watched from a distance, it was as if a stream of light poured out of the church and over the mountainside. For many it was a sign that all was well. God’s light was with them and in them and among them. The only time the little church lit up was when people were there. That’s when it truly became a church. That’s when the light shone most brightly.

And that’s why Jesus told his first followers, “Hear the good news: ‘The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.’ We are to follow God’s light and be light in the world. Especially on dreary January days like today…