Light

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:2, 6 NIV)

"People walking in darkness."  It sounds lonely.  It sounds hopeless.  But, wait!  "They have seen a great light!"  "A light has dawned!"

The famous astronomer, Carl Sagan, speaking about the vast emptiness of space once said,

"In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves."

I highly respect Carl Sagan's work, and I understand that science needs a kind of proof that faith doesn't, but we can find those "hints" everywhere we look.  And those "hints" work themselves out in our lives every day.  Maybe it is not evidence that we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands, but the evidence is seen and felt and heard and tasted by our spiritual senses... and by the unexplained events that answer our prayers and provide for our needs.

There are times in all of our lives when we feel the darkness closing in on us.  Advent and Christmas rescue us with their light.  Advent candles, Christmas trees, houses and lawns, city buildings, flashing Christmas sale signs in store windows..... Light! Light! Light!  All of it serves to remind us that "in a land of deep darkness a light has dawned!  For unto us a child is born, a son is given!"

No more darkness.  And yes, Mr Sagan, there IS a hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves."  Hope in the darkness.  Faith.  Light.

Father of Light,
Thank you for hope.  Thank you for the flickering flame of faith that burn in each of us.  Amen.