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Light of the World - A Christmas Reflection

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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