The last four days for me have felt like living in a cocoon, wrapped with sadness and no energy source inside. In mechanic’s terms, it’s been like a car completely out of gas with an engine profusely leaking oil …leaving one blown engine …emotionally and physically.
But in the late hours of Christmas Eve or the early hours of Christmas morning, I woke with some inner anticipation. There was a sense something had shifted. Something seemed to reset …re-center.
Singing in my head Rich Mullins’, ” You gotta get up, it’s Christmas morning,” I went in the dining room to light the center candle —the Christ Candle. The waiting was over. The Christ Child had appeared and the season of Advent coming to an end …for now.
The 3-wick candle seemed appropriate as a reminder of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit — God, three in one. All of Him in us …with us …for us …forever more. Emmanuel.
The center …Jesus at the center of our lives.
By definition, the center is known as “a point, place, person, etc., upon which interest, emotion, etc., focuses, …core.” Jesus at the center of all creation. The point from which all of life is birthed and sustained and continues to have purpose and being. And at this Point, all of life’s decisions are made …to focus on Jesus as the center or create our own. Every galaxy has a center. Only One sustains Life.
Jesus at the center …
And the Light shines in all our dark places to give hope and direction for the next step …a place of convergence …where the Truth, the Life, and the Way come into focus …a place of concentration. All Three Persons of the Godhead …an eternal flame to light our way.
“The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
and its people will rejoice…
For you will break the yoke of their slavery
and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod…
and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
They will be fuel for the fire.” *
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
Where do you see yourself in this Christmas story? The one living “in a land of deep darkness?” Depression? Anxiety? Hopeless? Homeless? Lonely?
Or do you relate more to the “yoke of slavery” from a great “oppressor,” or the “burden” you are carrying from injustice, wounds, racial prejudice, personal suffering, addictions, family divided, resentment, abandonment, or the trauma of war?
This Baby Boy came for ALL of us in whatever category we found ourselves falling into. He carried the weight of the world on His shoulders …the government, the injustice done to many, our suffering, our loss.
And while there is talk of building walls to shut others out, emotional and physical tsunamis destroying lives and homes, family dysfunction and violence, there is One who loved us enough to bring hope and peace into the middle of it all…no holds barred…one Child who loved us more than we could ever love Him back. One tiny, newborn baby Boy with a cord of love that would never be severed.
