A Life-Light to Live By

When I was little, I always had a great fear of the dark. A paralyzing fear that would immobilize me if a strange noise was heard or my imagination went for a run. I slept with two night lights and a street light outside my window and it still didn’t alleviate my fears.
Although I’m much better as an adult and sleep with no night lights now, I still have my moments of freak out. When do, I grab my flashlight in order to shed some light on the situation and keep the darkness at bay. Light makes sense of the dark. Light illuminates truth and diminishes fears. 
Advent is my favorite time of year. I love the anticipation, the build up, the expectancy of the Promised One’s birth. I love the promise that a great Light has shown and darkness cannot put it out.
“What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness could not put it out.” John 1:4-5
“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16)
Advent is a time of remembering that Light has come and darkness can never prevail. It is appropriate to be serving on the Pine Ridge Reservation during this season. I can only imagine how many Lakota struggle to see any glimmer of hope upon a landscape of darkness. There are many Lakota and others working faithfully to bring Light. Our prayer is that this we will be beacons of His light. That we can encourage and keep the darkness at bay through presence and prayers.
This Advent remember our Lakota brothers and sisters. Pray for them. May God use all of us to declare His glory and the promise that a Great Light has come. This Life-Light is a light to live by.