O Holy Night
2002 Advent Devotion Collection
December 2
READING: Genesis 1.14-10 and 3-5
And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was the evening and there was morning, one day. Genesis 1.3-5
The period of daylight on the earth varies with the latitude and the season, reaching a maximum of 24 hours in polar zones in the summer. It's the phenomenon known as the "midnight sun" or the "white nights of summer". It would take a lot of room-darkening shades or blinds for me to get a good night's sleep in those conditions.
We experienced this to a degree last summer when we traveled to the Baltic Sea regions and Russia. The sun rose daily at about 5 AM and did not set until almost 10 PM, giving us nearly 17 hours of sunlight each day to see all we could. It was wonderful! However, when we watched the beautiful sunset each evening the night and its darkness was a refuge-a time to reflect and recharge for the next day.
Few things are as peaceful and as
beautiful as a clear winter night when stars and moon shine down on glistening
snow. This is always how I picture Christmas, and, yes, it does feel holy.
The majesty of the darkness and the heaven's canopy of stars speak to
me of God's great power and glory.
The darkness of night can exaggerate our problems and fears. Helplessness,
hopelessness and loneliness may seep in as the sun fades out. That is
when we need to remember how God not only created light, but He created
darkness and saw that it too was good. He then sent us a beacon of light
on the first Christmas, the Light of the World, to comfort and guide us,
to bear our burdens and redeem us. "It's just what we always wanted!"
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we know that you rule the nighttime and the daytime of our world. Help us to see you in all of nature and creation. Remind us how the most precious gift we will ever receive came in the night. Let us hold that gift in our hearts all year. Amen. --Mary Jane O.
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(217) 428-4336