Christmas candle

I don't want to be a grinch here, but for many reasons i've never really been a big fan of Christmas. Sure it’s supposed to be a time of giving and good cheer, much light, music and celebration, and that it seems to be...

Christmas, most of us know it's not really Jesus' birthday. Centuries ago Christians decided to take a pagan winter solstice celebration and christen it Christmas. There's many theories about the real date of Christ's birth, but i won't speculate on it here. The date itself is not of any real significance except perhaps symbolically, as it’s celebration of light at the darkest time of the year, just as we celebrate Christ bringing light into this dark world.

Yet i'm left wondering, how much the Christmas season and celebration itself brings true joy to people? I also wonder how much it might take away? We talk about peace, joy and goodwill, yet Christmas seems to become a time of increased busyness and stress. All the increased expectations, what to buy, what to give, what to wear, what to eat,.. so much preoccupies our minds. All this on top of our day to day burdens.

Myself, i prefer a simple Christmas. I don’t like to blinded by lights and tinsel decorations, or bombarded by flashy commercials that tell me what 'the perfect gift' is, or even glazed Christmas messages propagated by some churches as they fill their pews.

Sure, not all churches focus only on the sweet baby Jesus to please parishioners, some do remind us of the more sobering truths. The truth that we still live in a fallen and dark world, the truth that Christ wasn't born to start a revolution an make everything right, nor did He come to make our lives easy or eliminate pain. But He came to bear our pain, He came to feel the hurt and rejection, He came to suffer all that we suffer. He came to humble Himself, He came to have compassion and understanding, and to become acquainted with all our troubles.

I know a pastor in Colorado who keeps a nail in his pocket every Christmas season, to remind him that there's much more to the Christmas story. It's not only about a baby king that was and still is worshiped and adored. It’s also about Christ being crucified in agony and bleeding for our sins. It’s about Him taking our punishment, not as a martyr but as a substitute. It’s about giving His life to give us liberty. A sobering thought while we envision Him peacefully laying in a manger...

Yes, this world is still a dark place. For me Christ is the candle in the darkness, the candle that can bring light to the darkest part of my soul, the candle that could also light another soul, which in turn could light another soul or even a thousand souls. It is this flame that brings hope. It’s something no flashing lights, ringing bells, blinding billboards, or extravagant Christmas gifts and celebrations could ever bring..

So as i celebrate Christ this dark winter season, one candle has all the light i need.

Have a blessed CHRISTmas!