Scripture
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. - John 1:1-5
Reflection
Usually, we reserve these first few verses of John for the season of Advent, but they speak to much more than Jesus’ origin story. It is an image from advent though that I think of when I read them: the very end of our candlelight Christmas Eve services when as pastors we ask the congregation to look around at all the candles lit throughout the sanctuary, held by people old and young, family members and friends, and then we say “Now go out into a dark world, carrying the light of Christ within you, to share that light of love with everyone you meet.”
Despite our anxiety and grief during this time of pandemic, Christ is still the light of world, and we are still called to share that light. As I’ve looked around the last couple of weeks, with a little more time than usual to reflect on what I see, in the midst of darkness I have seen so much light. One simple, joyous, ray of light is “The Great Lincoln Egg Hunt” which started as a group on Facebook that’s encouraging people to print out egg-shaped coloring pages and hang them in their windows so that kids with more outside-time than normal can “hunt” for Easter eggs. There are more than 11,000 people in this Facebook group that began just a few weeks ago, and every day there are stories of the egg hunt lighting up a kid’s day!
Another ray of light I’ve seen comes from all the people reaching out to connect with or offer help to others. Brett and I went for a drive last weekend to a part of town with big new houses that have four-car garages instead of front porches, and my heart was touched when I saw neighbors standing (over 6 ft apart) in their driveways holding conversation together down the whole block. I wonder when the last time was that many of our neighborhoods had “block parties” like this!
Times may seem dark, but friends, the light of Christ is shining as we connect with one another and go out of our way to brighten someone’s day! Even in isolation, there are ways to spread that light.
Prayer
Loving God, help us never to lose sight of the light of Christ in our world. Help us to be that light for others in creative ways, even during these times of social distancing. Amen
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