One of my favorite things to do at Christmas is drive or walk around neighborhoods looking at the lights on homes and lawns. Santas, sleighs and reindeer abound. On the rooftops, on the lawns, and strung between trees and housetops. Some even have the illusion of moving.
Then, there are the ones commemorating the coming of Messiah. Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and angels appear everywhere, too. Some are wooden and painted, some shimmer brightly from within. Though I don’t recall seeing manger scenes on roofs, I do notice there are a lot of stars hitched to houses, trees, poles, and all kinds of places.
Then I go home to admire the glimmer of my tree, stair rail, hutch, and everywhere else I could string bulbs. I enjoy them most at dusk. Lights glow in a muted fashion and it looks like magic. As it darkens outside, the lights grow brighter inside.
I delight in all the Christmas brilliance. I think part of it is that this is possibly the most dismal time of winter. It’s like the middle of the night when I get up to go to work in the morning. It’s dark again before I leave work in the evening. Where did the day go? Without all the cheery lights, it seems dark indeed.
As I stare at my decorated tree, I believe I read somewhere that the Christmas tree foreshadows the purpose for this celebration. I hang lights on my tree so it will brighten up my living room. In just a few months, we will celebrate that the Light of the World did hang on a tree to take away the darkness of the world and bring a flame to our souls.
Let them talk about commercialism – I don’t dispute it – but when I see Christmas lights, I remember that God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to save us from the depths forever. Let us celebrate! He is worthy of our praise! Halleulia, Joy to the World!
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King!” …a carol of Christmas.
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