It's January 10th and our Christmas tree is still up. I'm sitting in my dark living room, listening to worship music and basking in the glow of warm white lights. There is something so calming about the light that glows from a Christmas tree. I've stripped it of it's ornaments and decorations and all that remains is the light. Not even a skirt adorns it's trunk. So bare, but yet still so beautiful. We've never kept our tree up this long. But this year, we all needed a little more light for just a little bit longer.
It's always sad when people start taking down the outside Christmas lights. Although most yards are bare 10 months out of the year, somehow when the lights are gone it just feels like something is missing. Streets go dark, winter comes, kids stay inside and the life that seemed to come alive during the holidays slowly fades to stillness.
But there's a light that shines all year, and there's a light that brings life, joy and power. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5) And Christmas is all about this light. "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." (John 1:9) "And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) I believe Christmas lights can draw us to the true light if we take the time to let them.
Have you ever watched a little child stare at lights, mesmerized by the glow? Do you ever sit and stare at lights, captivated by their beauty. Light is meant to illuminate the darkness, draw us in, show us the way. As I sit and soak in just one more night of these soft warm lights, I draw in to Jesus. I quiet myself to sit at His feet and seek Him. This world is loud and it's screaming at me and sometimes I cannot hear above the darkness. But there is a light, a light that is not overcome by the darkness. A light that shines brighter, that leads the way, that glows the glory of God. And if a bare Christmas tree can in someway remind me of the one true light, then maybe it can stay up just a few more days.
