Theres comfort for me in attending a Christmas Eve candlelight service. The lights are low which makes it easier to focus, easier to drop the busyness of the day. I love hearing the familiar words of Luke 2. Sharing communion together with the church family. The pure joy of singing Joy To The World then Silent Night as candles are lit as a reminder that the light of the world entered a dark, sinful world because of love. I feel comforted by the familiarity of a worship service that doesnt change much from year to year or church to church. During the Christmas Eve service our pastor talked about how Christmas is difficult for some folks. It might be due to family issues, loss of a loved one, illness, coming to church alone, not knowing Jesus but feeling obligated to be there with your family. I appreciated his saying all that because it gave reluctant worshippers permission to drop all pretense. To be real before the God who loves us just as we are. I sat there and reflected on my pastors words. In that moment I was feeling the aloneness of sitting by myself. Of my dad and me not being together due to health issues. It was the first Christmas without my brother who went home to heaven this year. And December is the birth month of my sister who passed many years ago. In the middle of joy at remembering the birth of my Savior I also felt sadness and loss. In my church its okay to be broken and I felt safe to acknowledge joy and sadness, to let tears run down my face, to allow God to see those places in my life so that He could bring healing and light into the dark. Theres something holy and precious about crying in the Lords presence, being real with Him, inviting Him to be there rather than pretending or hiding. Ive thought more about losses that seem to be amplified at Christmas. Death of a loved one, divorce, financial set backs, grown children who choose not to come home to visit, not having employment when its needed, health issues, maybe just not having the life you thought youd have at the age you are. Losses are individual, specific. Sometimes there is someone to share the pain and sometimes there isnt. This Vince Gill song is about the loss of a loved one who struggled with brokenness. May it encourage you to talk to the Lord about your losses and brokenness. Music is a wonderful comfort but only God is our source and provider of comfort. m.youtube/watch?v=NwFiWCUkk4M
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:45:42 +0000