Waking early for time with God means waking before the sun.  For many of the winter months waking this early is jarring and my warm bed is hard to leave.  But not this December.

This year, as I wake in the early morning hours I remember what is waiting for me outside my bedroom door.  Leaving my room, I can see the glow of light emanating from around the corner.  Turning, I feel joy at the beauty of what I see: my Christmas mantle.

I love everything about this season: the food, the music, giving and getting gifts but I especially love the decor .  I love sitting in our house with all of the lights off except for those on our Christmas tree.  I even love driving my kids to and from all of our various commitments because we get to see houses decked out with colorful lights.

This is a season that celebrates light in the darkness.

This Advent there is one story about light in the darkness has been sticking with me.  I’m sure that you’ve heard it before, but humor me and take a moment to savor this piece of the Christmas story.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Photo by Min An on Pexels.com

I’ve been wondering what it must have been like that night; trying to imagine the scene. Shepherds, charged with keeping watch over the sheep, sitting out in the fields.  No one else is around.  They’re protective of their sheep.  Watchful even.  The world around them is rather dark.  There weren’t exactly street lights or house lights to add a glow to the horizon. I imagine that there were a lot of stars visible that night.  Maybe the shepherds took turns staying awake through the night…or maybe they were all staying up late talking in the darkness.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that darkness. Did it feel cold and lonely?  Or was it a comfortable darkness.  One that felt familiar?

But then the darkness was suddenly and unexpectedly disrupted by light.  Quiet disrupted by an angel and a message and singing.  It was a mundane night disrupted by amazing news.  News that changed everything for those shepherds.

Did you catch that when you read the story?  Did you feel the wonder of the shepherds?  Did you consider what the angels looked and sounded like?

Sometimes when I read the story, it seems kind of anticlimatic.  An angel appears with a message, then more angels appear, start singing and then they just return to heaven.  And then the shepherds just say to one another “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Do you think they just said it nonchalantly?  I bet their voices were shaking and their eyes were wide.  I bet they were wondering if they were crazy.

But then they found Jesus and Joseph and Mary and everything was just as the angel said.  And they were left with no choice but to share what they had seen and heard because it changed them.

Somehow in previous Christmases I lost the wonder and the excitement of the shepherds.  The story didn’t amaze me or bring me to tears and it certainly didn’t inspire me to share about it.

As my kids grew and our calendar filled with concerts and sports and parties, the wonder of the season was forgotten underneath all of the wrapping of Christmas.  The lists and tasks took over and before I knew it, Christmas Day was here and I’d missed experiencing the good stuff.  I was a shepherd in the darkness who MISSED the message and the singing.  I was so busy preparing for Christmas that I forgot to celebrate it.

This season has been different.  I’ve been aware of the darkness and I’ve been looking for the light.  Waiting with anticipation.  And this year the story moves me.  The shepherds, the angels, the scene at the manger…all of it brings me to tears when I think about it.

It moves me because the news of the angels changes everything for us too, if we let it. The idea that Christ came down and took human form causes me to weep because I am aware of my darkness and my need for light.  Jesus voluntarily became that light because I couldn’t be it for myself.  I hope I never lose the feeling of wonder that news brings.

Where are you this season?  Do you experience wonder at the thought of God incarnate? Does imagining the scene with Mary and her little baby move you? Do you sit and imagine what the shepherds thought and felt that night in the darkness?  Where are you sitting this season that needs disruption? Is there a part of your life that feels dark?  Are you wishing there was a way to recapture the wonder that you felt as a child? Wishing there was more joy this time of year?

If you’re anything like me this season always feels hectic and crazy.  It’s hard to catch a breath.  It can be challenging to find that moment to experience joy and wonder. If I may, I’d like to offer a few suggestions to help you reclaim the wonder of the season and what it means for you.

• • • • • • • • • • If you light a candle, take a breath.  Invite God into that singular moment.  Just acknowledge him. Ask him to meet you there.
                  • Take that moment in the pick up line at school, or in the checkout line at the grocery store.  Don’t check your phone.  Don’t turn on music.  Instead, take just a few minutes and breathe deep.  Imagine the shepherds in the field and a glorious host of angels coming out of nowhere. Imagine the light in the darkness.
                  • As you prepare to go to bed at night, turn off all of the lights except for those on the Christmas tree.  Put away your phone and then take a seat in front of the tree or twinkly lights somewhere in your home or even just light a candle. Take a moment to sit.

Think about that very first Christmas, Christ coming down and all of the angels from heaven needing to declare the wonder of it to a field of shepherds.  Invite God to sit with you.  Invite him into the darkness and ask him to be the light.

If you’re someone who isn’t sure about the Christmas story; isn’t sure about Jesus and the shepherds and the angels, but you are looking for wonder, would you consider trying one of the suggestions above?  I believe that God meets us exactly where we are with what we need.  He will meet you there, in that moment, if you’ll invite him in.

May this season bring back your joy and wonder.

I’ll be emailing out Advent thoughts all season! I’d love to send you my new posts as I write them. Sign up below to receive an email each week.