Emmanuel Lutheran Church

December 13, 2011

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:5

Fall is a wonderful time of year at our house. Gone is the hot, humid summer. A different warmth wraps around our home—that of the sun. On a cool fall day, the warmth and light of the sun filters through the newly barren trees and into the sunroom windows. The light of the sun is not only warm, but also a presence that is comforting, safe.

As a photographer, I am always looking at light. Light is more than what makes the day bright. It's a verb. It moves, it dances, it paints, it pours. Its actions affect me. Light draws me to it, and I am drawn to things that it illuminates. It can make my day.

My daughter is frightened by the absence of light. When the light goes, there is fear. She runs through the house in the dark morning, frantically turning on lights. "Where is the sun?" she asks. Light is assurance of a new day for her. A security.

Likewise, the light of God shines through the cold of the darkness into our lives, our world, our hearts. It illuminates our path as God guides us each day down the way he has prepared for us. Our path may have rocky relationships, tough days at work, parents who push us to the limits, or children who do the same. Especially during those times we can look to God’s light for guidance. We feel his light warming our hearts and our minds to keep us focused on his grace. His forgiveness. His glory.

As the days get shorter and the hours of sunlight dwindle, remember that God’s light shines on us and in us each and every day, granting guidance on the darkest of nights and in the brightest of days.

Lord, let the light of each day remind me of your grace and mercy, granted through the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus. Daily renew me in your changing light so that I may be a  beacon reflecting your life-giving rays to those lost in darkness. Amen.

Dani and Alex Kiefer

St. Lucia’s Day—Celebration of Light

December 13 is very special to children of Sweden. St. Lucia was a 4th century Sicilian girl who was put to death for her faith. Legend says that during a great famine in Sweden, Lucia brought food to everyone. When she appeared, the saint’s head was surrounded with a circle of light.

Before dawn on St. Lucia’s Day, the oldest daughter in Swedish homes dresses in a white robe with red sash, places a green wreath with candles on her head, and brings coffee, rolls, and cookies to her parents while they are in bed. Her sisters and brothers—”star girls and boys”—follow her, dressed in white and wearing star-topped hats.

Even if you aren’t Swedish, why not celebrate the day with a candle-lit breakfast: cinnamon rolls, coffee, and hot chocolate—served by children?