Have you had an off-kilter Christmas too?
What a weird season this has been. No grandchildren clamouring through, no visitors dropping by, no glorious baking sprees, no in-person church Christmas celebrations. Yet, I still put up a few nativity scenes, the tree, and definitely the kids’ stockings. Everyone virtually greets us with “stay safe” and “stay home!”
It reminds me of war-time in Beirut in the 60s living under the threat of Israeli bombs. We didn’t dare go out for a stretch of time. The draped windows remained closed at sundown, no lights allowed, except for a few flickering candles and kerosene lamps on low. The black-out was mandated for our own safety. We played endless monopoly, experimented in the kitchen, and lost ourselves in sewing and art projects. The usually hospitable flurries of company in and out of our home ceased. It was weirdly peaceful inside despite the threatening enemy outside.
When juxtaposing these two vignettes, I feel like I’m gazing into a mirror that reflects the condition of my heart and soul. The anxiety, the stress, the fear is looming outside ready to attack. Nevertheless, my stronghold of peace within still reigns supreme.
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”
How are you tending your inner light?
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar, but rather on the lamp-stand so that those who enter may see the light. The lamp of our body is the eye. When your eyes are sound, you have light for your whole body; but when the eyes are bad, you are in darkness. See to it then that the light you have is not darkness.
Holding on to the light today.
Excellent. I love it because I felt it then abd I felt it this Christmas. Thank you Sheila.
So grateful that you could relate. That’s the first step in connecting to what is written, then we can go on to absorbing the written word and acting on it.