Light a Candle
Ben Franklin is credited with saying, "Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle." Whether or not that was Ben's original saying (it probably wasn't), he was on to something. Especially during this season of the year when candles are so much a part of the celebration, we should be doing exactly what Ben suggests.
Instead, we followers of Jesus often resort to cursing the darkness. We bemoan the terrible state of the world, the times when Christians have been excluded from the conversation, the times when our faith has been ridiculed or when someone wishes us "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." We curse the darkness. We complain about the ways (we feel) our faith is being looked down upon.
What if, instead, we lit a candle? Not literally (though you certainly could)...but at least metaphorically. What if, instead of complaining about what's wrong, we worked to make things right? And even if the "issues" seem too large, what if we simply started with one person? That's the main way the message is spread: person to person to person. We symbolize that at Christmas Candlelight worship by "spreading the light" from person to person to person. One candle becomes two, two become four...and so on.
So let me ask you two questions. When was the last time you cursed the darkness? If you're like most of us, it was, perhaps, just earlier today. Or sometime relatively soon. Here's the other question: when was the last time you lit a candle by sharing your faith or inviting someone to come to church with you? Do you know that people who are interested in faith are more likely to respond positively to an invitation to church during this time of year than any other? Why not take a risk, light a candle, and ask someone to come with you on Sunday? If you do, you'll be bucking the trends. In my own tradition, the United Methodist Church, every local church member, statistically speaking, invites only one other person to church in their entire lifetime. One. So invite two (or more!) this Christmas season, and you'll be a new trendsetter.
Light a candle in someone's life, and heart by heart, life by life, we can push back the darkness that we've become accustomed to cursing.
By the way, do you know why candles are so much a part of the Christmas celebration? Even in homes with "no faith," candles are often lit. Candles became part of the Christmas tradition because the one who is being born is the one who is light of the world. Candles remind us that even a small light pushes back the darkness. So even in homes where the name of Jesus is never spoken reverently, the Gospel is still present. Every time a candle is placed in a window, there is a chance to share the good news.
Light a candle. Proclaim the good news. And invite someone to come with you on Sunday.
Instead, we followers of Jesus often resort to cursing the darkness. We bemoan the terrible state of the world, the times when Christians have been excluded from the conversation, the times when our faith has been ridiculed or when someone wishes us "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." We curse the darkness. We complain about the ways (we feel) our faith is being looked down upon.
What if, instead, we lit a candle? Not literally (though you certainly could)...but at least metaphorically. What if, instead of complaining about what's wrong, we worked to make things right? And even if the "issues" seem too large, what if we simply started with one person? That's the main way the message is spread: person to person to person. We symbolize that at Christmas Candlelight worship by "spreading the light" from person to person to person. One candle becomes two, two become four...and so on.
So let me ask you two questions. When was the last time you cursed the darkness? If you're like most of us, it was, perhaps, just earlier today. Or sometime relatively soon. Here's the other question: when was the last time you lit a candle by sharing your faith or inviting someone to come to church with you? Do you know that people who are interested in faith are more likely to respond positively to an invitation to church during this time of year than any other? Why not take a risk, light a candle, and ask someone to come with you on Sunday? If you do, you'll be bucking the trends. In my own tradition, the United Methodist Church, every local church member, statistically speaking, invites only one other person to church in their entire lifetime. One. So invite two (or more!) this Christmas season, and you'll be a new trendsetter.
Light a candle in someone's life, and heart by heart, life by life, we can push back the darkness that we've become accustomed to cursing.
By the way, do you know why candles are so much a part of the Christmas celebration? Even in homes with "no faith," candles are often lit. Candles became part of the Christmas tradition because the one who is being born is the one who is light of the world. Candles remind us that even a small light pushes back the darkness. So even in homes where the name of Jesus is never spoken reverently, the Gospel is still present. Every time a candle is placed in a window, there is a chance to share the good news.
Light a candle. Proclaim the good news. And invite someone to come with you on Sunday.
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