Opinion
The Light of the World is still with us
In this year of turmoil, Ruth Lilley finds comfort in the familiarity of the Christmas story
A couple of weeks ago, I was asked what my favourite traditional carol was. I realised that I have got quite a few! There is a lot about Christmas time that is familiar – the carols that we sing, traditions that we share, the lighting of candles each Sunday in Advent, the decorations that brighten our homes, stories that we read, the gifts that we give and receive and, of course, our favourite Christmas foods and chocolates!
For me, this year, all that familiarity of Christmas has brought security. This year has been a very unfamiliar year. It has been a year where all things familiar have been replaced with uncertainty and fear. We have had to learn a new way of doing things. The steps we have taken have been very unfamiliar - steps that we probably would not have chosen to take.
As we remind ourselves of the familiarity of that very first Christmas – when Love came down – we can hold on to the truths that came with that love. Jesus tells us in John’s gospel that he is the Light of the World, and that whoever follows Him will never be in darkness because He provides the Light that we need. Jesus came to show people His light and we are all invited to live in that light.
The world can feel very dark, especially in this unfamiliar year. However, when we lift our gaze and look upon what is familiar, we can remember that bright light, the shining star that appeared when Jesus was born, showing the way to Him. We have the privilege of having that Light within us, continuing to show us the way. The truth we can hold onto is that there is never enough darkness to put out the Light.
Also, we can celebrate as we know that God is with us - “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23 (NLT)
When so much seems unfamiliar, how great it is that we can remind ourselves of this awesome truth – God is with us. He came, in Jesus, to light up our paths, to show us the way, to give us strength, hope and peace. He came to save us, to heal us and to love us with His outrageous and extravagant love.
I find courage in this truth – that God is here, with us. The Light of the whole world, shining on us. Our year has been rocked by so much that is uncertain and unfamiliar. Yet, what is certain is that God is here, right now and He always will be. He gave us Jesus, the most wonderful gift. And this Christmas time we can choose to stand on what is familiar - the perfect love of God which surrounds us and gives us strength.
Image by TizzleBDizzle from Pixabay.com
Ruth Lilley has recently returned to teaching at an infant school in Norwich. She also enjoys writing, and writes a regular blog called ‘With Every Sun Comes A New Day.’
The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norwich and Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive debate between website users.