This year, I had the privilege of contributing a piece to a fantastic collection of pieces of writing about Advent and Christmas, published by the Association of Christian Writers. It is an impressive collection, with over eighty contributors of pieces that range from reflections to stories and poems. If you want to get yourself in a Christmassy mood, it's not too late to buy a copy on Kindle - follow this link to find out more!
Here is what I contributed:
Light of the World
Christmas
doesn’t always deliver what the big-budget advertisements promise – wholeness,
togetherness, peace. Worse, if it delivers trauma, sadness and loss, it can be
hard, in the years that follow, to raise any festive cheer at all.
I
swell the ranks of the Christmas trauma-sufferers; my baby was born, without
life or breath, in the season of sparkly lights and festive joy. Then, and in
the years that have followed, it has been hard to rekindle a love for this incongruent
season, as I’ve navigated the wilderness of loss and healing. Sometimes the
pressure Christmas brings for joy and perfection swallows me up as I stand,
staring back into the darkness I faced that year.
One
thing I have learned to cling onto, over the years, is the Old Testament verse,
foretelling Jesus’ coming: “The people
walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live
in a land of deep darkness.” (Isaiah 9v2, NET). He is the Light
of the World; His light can drive out whatever darkness we find ourselves
facing - past, present or future. I pray that He will ignite something this Advent
season – a flicker to a flame, a flame to a roaring fire – to help you emerge
from any personal ‘land of deep darkness’ you find yourself navigating.
When
all colour has faded to dull monochrome,
Radiate,
Light
of the World
When
night comes too soon, and I’ve wandered from home,
Illuminate,
Light
of the World
When
shadows press in at the edge of my mind,
Dispel
them
Light
of the World.
When
dawn is far off and hope hard to find,
Rise
in me,
Light
of the World.
When
the gloom of the moment has stolen my song,
Permeate,
Light
of the World.
When
the dark overwhelms, and the night is too long,
Bring
sunrise,
Light
of the World.
Rekindle
relight, re-ignite to a flame,
Incandescent,
Light
of the World.
Blaze
in the dark, ’til the world knows your name,
Unquenchable,
Light
of the World.
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