Tuesday, December 29, 2020            (today’s lectionary)
The Fifth Day of Christmas
Blinders toward the light
The darkness is passing away and the true light is always shining.
When I drive into the almost setting sun, I can hardly see the highway. But after a bit the sun settles into the west and the blue sky becomes a beautiful darker blue, and all of us on the road watch the sun that gives us warmth and life turn orange, then red, then fall down into dusk. We turn on our headlights, and keep on keeping on. The professional semi drivers do this every day.
Last week on Monday December 21 I drove southwest through Arkansas at sunset, and the Christmas Star really did appear, just above the horizon, just where they said it would be. I followed it, like the wise men. How many of us in America were watching that night? Looking for Jesus, looking toward the light?
Announce his salvation day after day. The Lord made the heavens, splendor and majesty go before him.
On Miles’ bedroom ceiling there is a blue blanket of stars, and when we turn off the lights, they glow and glow. We can find the Big Dipper, and the Little Dipper, and the North Pole, and I suppose we could find our birthday constellation too, if we knew how. Three generations, Grandpa, Daddy and Miles all born in November under the stars of Scorpio.
Most days I want to put on blinders against the world, look straight ahead and see Jesus. As Margaret’s mom Dorothy said on her 97th birthday Sunday December 27, “I look at Jesus in the morning when I get up until the evening when I sleep. I love Jesus so much. I just wish I’d known this sooner. But … God knows best.” Dorothy passes this joy on to us. Can I do that too?
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
There are always times when someone on the road goes faster than fast, passing everyone, switching lanes, hitting their brakes only when they have to. It seems careless, it’s scary to me for myself and everyone else. But I try to watch only for a moment, and turn my eyes away. I try not to hope the state police will nab them and slow them down. I try. I look for my blinders and see if they still fit. Can I find Jesus? Look out toward the light? Listen to Jesus loving me, and pass it on?
This child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (and you yourself a sword will pierce).
Baby Jesus is growing up fast, as he does every year. I want to enjoy the cuddly Baby Jesus just like we did Jack, Aly, Miles and Jasper, and before that Chris, Marc and Andi, as long as I can. And then move on into worship and praise.
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