The Season of Light
I worked in my greenhouse the other day. My geraniums and tropical Hibiscus were still blooming. I cut all the blooms off, (yes, that’s was tough to do.) Then, I trimmed all of the plants back by one third. I have the temperature set at 57 degrees. It is time for rest. It is time to focus the plants energy into strengthening the root system. A strong root system will ensure a healthy, strong plant that can ward off pests and disease. It is actually time to prepare in advance for another growing season. Indoors my Zygo Cactus is just beginning to bud. I have packed away my fall decorations and will begin the process of Christmas decorating.
Every time I get out my Christmas lights I think about my dad. Christmas decorating in my childhood home was a family affair. Every year we placed a six foot Douglas fir in front of the big south window of our living room. Dad’s job was the lights. Strings of lights covered the living room floor. We always had multicolored lights in orange, red, blue and green. Dad plugged in every strand to make sure they all worked. Back in those days if one light bulb went out the whole string would not work. Inevitably, there was always at least one string that was out. Dad was usually a patient man but when it came to the Christmas lights his patience wore thin. It wasn’t long and we could hear him grumbling under his breath. It was always a little comical, (although we didn’t dare laugh.) It was not anger really; it was more like the typical dad you see in Christmas movies. In the end the tree was perfectly lit. Silver tinsel and garland reflected the lights filling the living room with a heartwarming glow.
“God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory and is like Him in every way. By His own mighty word, He holds the universe together…” (Hebrews 1:3)
There are many troubling stories coming through the news casts and social media. All around there seems to be anger, controversy and scandal. If we are not careful we can find ourselves feeling discouraged and hopeless. In those moments we need to stop and remember that verse in Hebrews. We must remember there are no people groups, no world leader, and no evil that can short out the light of the one true God. He is not capable of being surprised, out witted or overcome by darkness. He has unlimited and unfailing patience. He has told us in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “Everything that happens has happened before; nothing is new, nothing under the sun.”
As we begin this wonderful season let us be ever so careful to remember Who and What we are celebrating. Let’s remember as we put up our Christmas tree that there was a savoir born to die on a tree for the sins of the world. As we place the star on the top of that tree let’s remember Who the light of the world really is. As we place presents under the tree let’s remember that our Heavenly Father sent us the best gift of all. Let’s reflect His light in the dark world around us. Give the gifts of encouragement, hope, and appreciation to people serving in our communities. Let’s challenge ourselves to spend time in His Word every day. Spend more time with Him than on social media or listening to a news cast. Let’s strengthen our spiritual roots so that we, the Church of the one true God, can thrive, grow, and bloom again.
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praise worthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)