Christmas: A Thought
This is a time of year that's supposed to be happy and joyous. There's Christmas carols and family time and presents. Food and games and get-togethers and Christmas parties and concerts.
There is hustle and bustle during this season. There is the feeling of never having enough time. The feeling of the days slipping through our fingers until we are left itching for the start of a new year.
Christmas is not always the happiest season. It's not always "the most wonderful time of the year", and I think that's important to acknowledge that. Christmas is also a time that we feel the ache of the accumulated losses throughout the year: we have lost loved ones. We have had changes in life situations, relationships, and jobs. Sometimes hearts are heavy, but even in the heaviness, even in the moments you think your heart is going to weigh you down like an anchor… It’s important to remember that you are not alone.
You are not alone. We are not alone. That's the anthem and the prayer that has been echoing in the chambers of my heart.
There's a poem from Levi the Poet called Infirmary and in it, he says
We are not afraid of the darkness!
There are cracks in every house, it's not houses we're worried about!
We are not afraid of the darkness!
There are imperfections in our home, shadows in our souls! (And still:)
We are not afraid of the dark!
There is no place for the lampshade that covered up my heart!
We are not afraid of the dark!
I've been thinking about this a lot: we don't live in fear of the darkness because we know the source of light- the Father Himself. That sentiment sounds really nice on paper, but I think we've discounted the beauty of friendships. I think we've become so accustomed to being strong on our own that it's difficult to be vulnerable. We each are stories, passionate and beautiful and breaking together. So this is a reminder: that love is loud. Love is louder than anxiety and depression and the hustle and bustle of this season.
It is our stories, our life breathing hearts that whisper to the broken pieces in each other and encourage us all to keep going. We are stories, broken pieces bound together by the tapestry of His grace. Together, we are louder than the darkness.
We are louder than the darkness.
Reach out to those around you. Community, especially during this season, is more important than ever. Be a soft smile, a warm hug to someone that needs it. Be kind. Stay soft. Christmas is not always the happiest time of the year, but we can be love. We can share Love Himself.
I have the opportunity to go on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic in March! I will be helping to lead Vacation Bible School activities, digging wells, and connecting with the community! Will you pray about supporting me? You can give online here.
Between the Shadow and the Soul: Blogging through the journey.