Arise, Shine, the Light has come

At some point over the past few weeks, as I maneuvered through crowds of gift-purchasing people, I thought "What is it about Christmas that we as a people get all worked up about?"

What, after all, is the point?

And then, because I am who I am, I have spent the rest of my time trying to figure it out.

On Christmas Eve, I sat amongst my mother's family as they ogled over the thoughtfulness spread through the many gifts, and I thought "Is it the thoughtfulness?"

Perhaps it is the laughter?

 The abounding joy of being together?

[Because--can't you just taste the joy demonstrated here?]

I came to no conclusion.

The following day, I dwelt in the presence of my lovely siblings & parents as we gifted each other with gifts.

As we indicated that we have been watching each other's needs.

As we desired to make each other happy,

and as happy we were made.

We spent much of the evening looking forward to a new member's presence in the next year,

and laughing together over the things that no one outside of us would understand.

As I dwelt in these good things I thought more about that "point". 

I considered--

Is it found in any of these?

and I concluded--

Yes, in all of them.

And yet...

I was not satisfied.

I considered--

they can only be a shadow...

because here is the reality I have been numbingly aware of as I have watched the Christmas preparations unfold around me:

We are just a people, walking in darkness, looking for a break.

Looking for some light, to make our journey feel just a little easier.

And so I concluded:

Laughter, togetherness, thoughtfulness, and beautiful bows are merely indications that light exists.  They are reflections and reminders that leave me unsatisfied at the end of another Merry Christmas, still feeling the weight of my brokenness.

Still wondering.

Still looking for the Light that invades darkness to give me the strength to go forward, and that is only to be found in this Word:

Arise. Shine! 

The Light has come and is 

Immanuel: 

God-with-us.

Here is satisfaction.

And so I consider and conclude:

The point?

Arise, shine, reflect and remind:

The Light has come,

The Light is with us,

And in this Light we find our Point.

[For nothing is impossible with God.]