Hope in the Light and the Shadows
I grew up in New England where the crisp November weather is immediately followed by gray December skies. No reminder that winter has arrived is needed here – nature has its way of telling us that the season has changed, and the holidays are around the corner. Winter has a different smell, a different light, and a different sound than the rest of the year. In this corner of the country, holiday décor and traditions fend off the gloomy winter nights that might otherwise bury us in darkness. The long nights are contrasted by the warm glow of Christmas lights - each strand of twinkling lights is a declaration that light will always triumph over dark and reminds me of the hope we celebrate during this season.
Hope can sometimes be hard to hold onto during the holidays. For those of us serving in ministry, Christmas is often a mixed bag of emotions and demands. Not only are our schedules busy, but oftentimes the emotional output is high. Just this week I’ve been working on preparing music for my church’s Christmas Eve services while also watching a member of our small group plan a funeral service for his brother. I’ve experienced the joy of gathering with friends to make cookies and exchange gifts, while balancing the pressures of family gatherings when relationships are strained or broken. I know I am not the only one holding burdens in one hand and joy in the other - it’s a tension we’ll manage until the day of Christ’s return when all things are made new. Until that day comes, I find hope in knowing that my Savior truly is Emmanuel, God with us. We serve an ever-present, all-knowing, compassionate Lord who took on our flesh so He could do that which we could not do on our own – give us hope. He brings us hope for salvation. Hope for healing. Hope for reconciliation. Hope for eternity.
It’s not a simplistic, sanitized version of joy that ignores our pain. It's profound and resilient - acknowledging our struggles and pointing us toward Someone greater. As we stand on the eve of yet another Christmas, may we make room in our hearts, our homes, and our communities – for both the light and the shadows. And may we trust that Emmanuel – God with us – is present in every single moment, transforming us with His unfailing love.
Merry Christmas.
Alicia Osgood
Support & Implementation Specialist, Threefold Solutions
