I am amazed it is already December, but I am ready for it! I love all the “things”…baking, gifting, making, sharing, singing,serving…but my favorite things continue to be the quiet morning, still night and mid-day pause when thoughts and hearts turn intentionally toward the reason for the celebration. In some homes a candle is lit for each of the advent themes. This week let us remeber our Hope in Jesus Christ.
I squinted my eyes in the darkened hotel room. What is that light? I was desperate to get to sleep early as we planned to get back on the road before sunrise. Normally, I am a champion sleeper. My husband says it’s my superpower. Deep, snore filled, sleep falls on me with the grace of a well-trained fighter pilot landing a plane on an aircraft…and apparently just about as loud. But not this night. This night I became hyper focused on a tiny light on the ceiling that seemed to scatter brightness all around the room. The one small window was shielded with thick shades and drapes. Illuminating sources, like digital alarm clocks or charging phones, were covered with hand towels. Darkness should have prevailed, but it did not. No effort to create a darkened room could overcome the impact of the tiniest bit of light emanating from a smoke detector on the ceiling. That tiny indicator light was loudly proclaiming “I am here, I am working on your behalf” 24/7.
I’ve thought about that light recently. I actually have a similarly placed detector in my room at home. Some things I noticed. 1) In the light of day, the tiny indicator light is barely noticeable. It is obviously still there, a silent sentry guarding my home. 2) At home I am acclimated to sleeping with moonlight seeping through cracks in the drapes, a bathroom nightlight and all our electronics with LED displays…in the darkness these lights are comforting. The smoke detector indicator light seems to fade away. 3) No matter my awareness of it, it is still there…always proclaiming, “I am here, I am working on your behalf.”
As I lay in bed last night, the advent theme of HOPE on my mind, my eyes drifted up toward the tiny light on our ceiling. When it is light, it is difficult to see it. The darker the surroundings, the more impactful it is. It does not need to be bigger or brighter. It only needs to exist, ready to share its light and proclaim, “I am here, I am working on your behalf”.
I think this is a lot like the HOPE we have through knowing God loves us. Though we may not deserve it, while we all are still sinners, He sent His son (Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas) to walk among men, glorify His Father in all He did, to die and overcome death on our behalf that we may know forgiveness and grace and not eternal darkness.
He is a light unto the world. He proclaims to us, “I am here, I am working on your behalf” in our lightest days or darkest hours. My HOPE is in Him alone…when people, circumstances, or nations unsettle my heart, I will think of that tiny smoke detector light and remember… Darkness will not prevail, He is still here and working on our behalf.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
Tuesday With Teri 