Do you remember the old Christmas lights from back before there were “Mini-lights” and LED lights?  I think they were called C7 bulbs?  The way they were wired, if one bulb failed, the whole string of lights went dark.  With modern lights, if one goes out the rest stay lighted.  The burned-out bulb is easy to spot amongst the other lights.  I Tweeted the other day “A candle is barely noticeable in daylight.  However, its light is undeniable in darkness.”  The only thing more noticeable in darkness is the absence of light.

Because darkness is so scary for many people, it is widely used to represent evil.  I find it troubling that in popular culture, evil or darkness is portrayed as the color black.  This is not only insulting to dark skinned peoples, it is also misleading.  Scriptures teach that Satan can disguise himself as an “Angel of Light”.   Furthermore, darkness has no color.  Albert Einstein has been quoted as having said “There is no such thing as darkness.  Darkness is simply the absence of light”.  I guess that’s why it’s said, “The darkness hates the light”.  It’s because the light uncovers and exposes the darkness.  Darkness also hates the light because in the light, darkness will cease to exist.

With Advent and Chanukah just around the corner, we ordered more candles, so we’ll be ready to light our Advent wreath and Menorah.  The lighting of these two faith symbols is a significant statement against darkness.  The Advent wreath symbolizes our preparation to celebrate the entrance into our world of the Light of the World in human form; that is Jesus.  The Menorah is a remembrance of God miraculously sustaining the Menorah light in the Temple in Jerusalem for eight days when Judah the Maccabee found only enough oil for one day.  In both cases, light cast out darkness and that light illuminated human hearts.

Besides shorter daylight hours and the subsequent shortage of visible light as winter aproaches, a spiritual darkness exists in the world.  Darkness in human hearts can lead to dark actions.  Like human lamps, we must shine our lovelights to overcome that darkness.  Let’s join hands to form a string of lights and light up the dark!    “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel – NO!  I’m gonna let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel – NO!  I’m gonna let it shine.  Hide it under a bushel – NO!  I’m gonna let it shine.  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  Won’t let evil blow it out.  I’m gonna let it shine.  Won’t let evil blow it out.  I’m gonna let it shine.  Won’t let evil blow it out.  I’m gonna let it shine.  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16

© 2017 Curt Savage Media