A Light-bulb Hanging Over My Head

I've always really liked the Advent Candles, and the liturgy that goes with them.... which is odd, because I'm not really one for liturgy. It does have its place, and there are times when liturgy helps me - but generally I prefer not to be reciting pre-written prayers, or responding in a pre-scripted manner to someone else's pre-scripted statements.

But for some reason, lighting candles at advent, complete with the recitation of liturgy, is something that speaks to me.

I was at the evening service last night, and for once, I was there with nothing to do - no rota'd task, no operation of the video desk, just me, part of the congregation, seeking to worship and to hear from the Almighty God.

And, although KP preached an engaging and different sermon, although the worship band led us in muscial worship with gusto and enthusiasm, the thing that God used most of all to touch me, to speak into my heart, was the burning advent candles.

As I watched the flame (whilst listening to Keith of course!) I was reminded of being at a Delirious? concert, several years ago (probably back in the late 1990's - wow, I really am getting old!) a concert which ended (as most Delirious? concerts back then did) with Martin Smith, stood on a darkened stage, lighting a single candle, singing the words

"There is a light, which shines in the Darkness,

His Name is Jesus, the Light of the World"

The image of light in the darkness persisted all evening, through KPs sermon (I was listening, honest) and the discussion that followed, and even into the car on the way home, when U2's Ultraviolet came on, with the lines

"Your love was a lightbulb

Hanging over my head"

 

The image, of a single light, shining in the darkness seems very powerful to me today - in a world where things are hard, where there is much that is dark and many who are struggling, the message this Christmas, just as it was at that first Christmas 2,000 years ago is one of Hope - a light shining in the darkness (whether a candle, a lightbulb or any other source of light), which can never be extinguished, no matter how dark it actually gets - in fact, the darker things are, the brighter the light appears.

So, as I get ready for Christmas this year my prayer is not just that I can remember that message of hope in the darkness, but that my life will be an example which reflects that light to others -- that in me, the hope and glory of my saviour will be seen by others...