I sit with a cup of coffee between my hands before the rest of the house wakes, and I gaze at the glowing Christmas tree.
For a while, I search for favorite ornaments and think back to our girls’ faces when they spied angels and stars they’d made in years past.
Then my eyes look beyond the white light and ornaments into the middle of the tree where it is only dimly lit.
Like the morning outside our door.
I think of those who waited in near darkness and half-spent longing — over hundreds of years — for their Savior.
I think of those who still wait for saving.
Haggard and weary, eyes straining to see light.
The Light shines, and the Light — it still comes to drive away darkness.
I pause and feel the calm of Light’s glow. I breathe deep.
And then, out of Light’s still, longings stir.
For more.
More peace. More satisfaction. More time in a day. More sleep. More joy in this season. I feel the dark of not-enough. I hunger.
Then as I look into strands woven through fir branches, it’s as if light multiplies. Pearls strung one after another with their Promise of hope, a future, peace.
Mingled with lack longings, Light dawns.
Light comes to my eye-straining dark. Again and again. Draws me up with its silent, holy love presence.
The more I look into the Light, the more I see the Light.
This Light of life birthed in pain under stars. Soft baby skin wrapped in rags. Word made flesh among us.
Light dawning again in places where light trickles dim.
The Emanuel light, God with us, has come.
The light is here.
Again and again.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Love this imagery Ashley – “This Light of life birthed in pain under stars. Soft baby skin wrapped in rags. Word made flesh among us.”
Light comes to us, Light shines, from unexpected, often humble, places. We’re reminded (it seems to me) to keep our eyes open, to continue to pay attention, to look for the light that is, as you say, always shining Thank you again dear one for a beautiful post.
The spirit resides within you, that is certain. The ability you have of expressing deeply held beliefs and thoughts in your writing is a gift. I am happy you share it with so many of us.
Reminds me of my favorite Christmas song, that I’m listening to right now…Silent Night! I love your style of writing and your blogs are like devotions. I wonder why we fight it so much, that voice that is calling us to be still, is it because we know He’ll still be there later? Is it our culture or just human nature?…probably both! Merry Christmas to all! -Annie
Ashley- pure poetry! – I love your connection of what you are doing in the moment moving to outside then moving to history then tying back to all people for whom the light has come. You are offering a message of hope while allowing us into your living room. It’s as if i am right there with you, sipping a cup of coffee, which we will have to do in the new year!