Circuit Thoughts

Four candles have been lit. Hope, Peace, Joy and Love are all illuminating the circular ring of the Advent Wreath. Almost like a halo, but with one caveat. The middle is empty. We have worked around the circle, but to what end.

You know, life is kind of like that. We do so much in our life to make it come full circle. We seek to be complete and fulfilled. Yet in all our efforts, we often forget what we are making the circle for. Have you ever asked yourself what is in the middle of your circle? Just like the Advent Wreath, what is supposed to be in that middle part?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the LIGHT of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

The Advent Wreath is not complete until the Christ Candle is lit on Dec. 24. That candle stays lit for the next 12 days (yep, the 12 days of Christmas.). The fruition of our journey during Advent is to receive the light of all people, Christ Jesus. Just as Light was first introduced at creation, so it is reintroduced on the night of His birth.

For us, our lives are never truly complete until we too receive the light. We have been wondering around in the darkness for so long, we don’t even know what light looks like, yet we have been craving light. We make circles, but we don’t know what is in the middle. We know something goes there, but what?

For so long we try to find purpose and completion in life. We seek that purpose in so many things. We chase after fame and fortune. We worship false idols and new ideas. Yet if the truth be known, we are just looking for light.

This last candle of Advent is the first light of our existence. We may not know what we are looking for, but when we give ourselves to Christ, we have found the missing piece. The circle of candles is complete, the middle has been filled.

But what about you? What about your loved ones? What about those who are still stumbling around in the darkness, chasing the latest, greatest thing? Is that circle complete?

Maybe it’s time to shine the light of Advent onto a world that is stuck in the dark. Maybe we need to become the Advent Wreath for the next 365 days. Why can’t we for the next year be Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love? Why can’t we just share the light of Christ, in a dark and dismal world?

Remember, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.

Be the Light.

Shalom my friends.

See you in church.