More Light

Four days.
Four days until all the waiting is finished.
Until the sanctuary is filled with flickering candle light.
All the doing pauses in the darkness.
Waiting to hear the good news of God With Us.
Four days. Just four more days.

In the Morning Meditation we ponder the question, “What are you ready for?” My answer rises to the surface without much effort. Light… I’m ready for light. Because the sun sets early and the night feels extra long. Darkness seeps into the crevaces of my daily living.

A friend’s grief.
The prodigal I pray would just come home.
Learning to live in this empty nest.

She stepped to the counter tears flowing freely. Fingers pressed to stave off the downpour. She came to choose a grief book for a friend. Turned out she’s the one in need. I paused… hugged… prayed.

Light, Lord… I’m ready for more light.

Revelation words point me to the empty manger,

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people. He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21 NLT

In the darkness of night God made His home with us. He surrendered to the plan. Wrapped his divinity in skin and entered the world from the darkness of a mother’s womb. All to bring more light.

Living between the manger and the day when all death and sorrow are gone forever feels so up and down. Joy and suffering rise and fall. Disappointment dashes hope. All the broken in the world has me antsy. I want to run from the long dark nights of Advent and find some distraction in the waiting. Like a child squirming in a parent’s arms, I want to break out of broken’s embrace and run.

In the midst of my squirming I consider the question again, “What are you ready for?”

My answer is the same, I’m ready for more light.

And I hear a response from deep within…Exactly!

This is exactly what Advent waiting is supposed to be. Staying present in the darkness creates a deep desire for more light.

Light bursting forth from a girl’s womb to save the world.
Light that shatters darkness above the stable turned nursery.
Light that speaks,

Behold, I am making all things new!
Revelation 21

Just four more days until we celebrate the beginning of God’s plan to make his home with us… in us. A reminder to stay present in the dark broken of it all. My broken. The brokeness of those I love, and those I encounter along the way.