One of the things I like about this season of increasing darkness (until winter solstice - December 21 - when daylight starts gaining again) is creative lighting. How many ways can I illumine a gloomy room?
Room lights, hall lights, floodlights, etc. have their place for sure, but it's ambience that I'm after, chasing away the tenebrific shadows.
Bookshelf lights, book lights, string lights (not too early!), dimmers, candles (of course), my new favorite rechargeable, portable cuties (have you gotten some? Oy - life changer!), firelight (even electric), flickering window lights, and more! They must all be warm white, obviously. Just ask my husband. Somehow, these make the dark early mornings and evenings not just tolerable, but cozy.
I finished my annual reading of the Bible yesterday. It ended with a glorious, flourishing finish. Jesus on page one, Jesus on page 1329, and Jesus on the pages between - all of it all about Him. What a wonder.
As we approach Advent which starts next week and as I sit here in my dim library this morning, I marvel at the last promises written down and preserved for us so long ago. Revelation 21 is a very encouraging chapter (and very appropriate for Advent). Don't miss it.
Here are a few things I wrote down to both remember in future and be thankful for especially this week (see what I did there?).
There will be:
a new heaven and a new earth.
God will dwell with us in both.
He will be with us and be our God.
He will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
Death will be no more; grief, crying and pain will be no more - passed away. (no more - amen?)
He will make everything new. (Everything? Me too? Everything.)
He will freely give the water of life to the thirsty and access to the tree of life.
He will bring blessings and rewards for those who keep His words and those who conquer.
It will never be night there. (No more night?!)
There will be no need for sun or moon (sunlight or lamplight says the Message version).
The glory of God lights it with the Lamb as the lamp. (see John 8:12 "Jesus declared, 'I Am the Light of the World. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the Light and life.'")
Well.
Hello Advent. I see you. December is the darkest month of the year. One can't help but draw out the benefit of observing this dark season of Advent annually because we long for the Light who already came into the world, Who already shines in the darkness, and we remember to long for these future promises - the second Advent of Jesus.
During Advent we are reenacting the drama of prophecy and longing and joyous fulfillment that climaxed with Jesus' first coming. We're reliving all those centuries of waiting in the darkness for a great Light to shine.
Friend, if you are in a season of darkness, be of good cheer. Be illumined. The Light has come. The Light will come again. No more darkness. No more night. No more pain, grief or tears.
What a wonder.
Even so, come Lord Jesus. We are watching and waiting and expecting You.
P.S. This glorious passage in Revelation (a book that deceptively scares many of us too much to read) is another reason to read the Bible from beginning to end. Especially if you dig happy endings.
