Musing #4:  Light

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

I have always found these words from Isaiah a comfort and encouragement at Christmas-time.  With all that is going on in the world it very much feels that we are ‘walking in darkness’ and in a ‘land of deep darkness’.  As we move through this week leading up to Christmas, and on into the winter months of the New Year, can we consciously hold on to God’s promise of light?  Can we be alert and looking for the light that is dawning?

And can we consider the other meanings of ‘light’?  Light is the opposite of darkness, but it is also the opposite of ‘heavy’.  Jesus says in Matthew 11: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. God does not want us to be weighed down – by our anxieties and concerns, by the worries of the world, by our possessions, our obligations, by life.  He offers a yoke that is light. When we wear his yoke he enables us to let go of those heavy things.  This reminds me that we are called to a simple life – maybe this is something we can embrace as we move into 2024.

Light is also the opposite of tight.  There are some things that we tend to hold onto too tightly.  It might be our self-image, it might be certain possessions, it might be a way of doing something or a certain belief.  It might even be a loved one.  A familiar song says: if you love someone, set them free.  If love is causing us to hold onto something or someone too tightly, we need to loosen our grip: be willing to change; be willing to share; and sometimes be willing to let go.

Finally, light is the opposite of serious.  We are prone to taking ourselves too seriously.  I honestly think that part of God bringing us light is enabling us to laugh.  And an important part of this is being able to laugh or smile at ourselves.  We all make mistakes, we all mess up – I’m not saying try to do this, but God still loves us exactly how we are, and when we realise this we can lighten up a bit and smile and see the bright side.  Managing to do that will bring light to those we live with and meet during this festive season and in the year ahead.

God brings light in the darkness – let’s live out that light as we move through Christmas and into the New Year.