Dillon Community Church

When we switch our clocks to standard time at the beginning of November, there is a stark transition in which we find ourselves in early darkness that seems to creep in too soon, and makes us wonder if we should eat dinner at 4:30! Light and radiance are good things, and during the 400 years of prophetic silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament, the wait for the light and radiance of a savior continued.

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When we celebrate Christmas, it’s filled with twinkling lights and candles shining in our homes through the darker days of the year to remind us that the Light of the World is coming. The early darkness of December is filled with glowing color and sparkle – the light piercing through the night on the houses and trees. Maybe instead of thinking about which houses did a good job decorating for the celebration, I should contemplate just how much light came into the world on that day so long ago.

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I grew up in a tiny little town about 20 miles outside of Chicago. As early as I can remember, the whole town prepared for Christmas Eve by going to the hardware store and purchasing kits for the Luminaria that would be lit precisely at 6:00 on the 24th. Our whole village would come alive all at once with streets illuminated with candles in bags – a tradition some say to light the way for the Christ child’s arrival. I prefer to think of it as the arrival of Jesus Christ, suddenly cracking the darkness with the brilliant light of His presence.

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“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

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Lynne Tarras
Elder