The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. —Isaiah 9:2
Growing up, we were a family that was all about tradition, especially at Christmas. There was always an atmosphere of joyful anticipation. We always decorated our tree the Sunday before Christmas and when we were done, walked around the corner to my grandmother’s house for dinner. We always set up train tracks under our tree, enjoyed hot cocoa from Santa mugs, lit the house with colorful lights, and we wore the matching Christmas nighties Mom made. Christmas Eve worship always ended in the dark signing Silent Night by the ethereal glow of candles.
When I became an adult and had my own home, I tried to emulate many of the things my mother had done. Anticipation was still paramount and part of my motivation. Over time I added to those traditions. When I met my friend Ursula, we started a new tradition: On Black Friday instead of Christmas shopping for presents we shopped for greenery and candles—one candle each representing hope, joy, peace, and love—and we made advent wreaths. It was an appropriate tradition for the season.
This year, as I decorated my home for the upcoming festivities, flashbacks of childhood Christmas flooded my emotions. As I rolled out the artificial snow onto a narrow tabletop, and placed my sparkly, pre-lit church in front of a swag of greenery, and set out my late aunt’s little, porcelain angel, I was swooped back childhood. To my (fallible) recollection it always snowed on Christmas. It even snowed this year while decorating. It was magical. There was a sense of joy this year that I have not felt in a long time. But where does that joy come from?
Always Winter
“It is winter in Narnia,” said Mr. Tumnus, “and has been for ever so long…. always winter, but never Christmas.” —CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia
For centuries, God prepared His people for the coming of His Son, our only hope for life. Right from the very beginning in the book of Genesis, God promised He would send someone to confront the darkness and save us. Starting with Abraham’s great-grandson Judah, a promise was received that in their family line there would be a king who will confront evil bring and peace and harmony. A multitude of generations after that produced kings, but not one of them would fulfill the promise God had made.
Times got very dark for God’s people. The prophet Isaiah brought news once again of a great king. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. —Isaiah 7:14 And throughout the rest of the Old Testament, humanity waited a long time for this promise to be fulfilled. The people waited in hopeful anticipation. Sometimes, I imagine that it was like the perpetual winter in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. Not the magical snow that we experienced as children, but unremitting winter that never ends.
Can you imagine what it would be like if it was always winter? Now that we moved to Nebraska and experience real winter, I don’t know that we could survive it—endless winter. We love winter, for awhile, but dealing with ice and snow, sub-freezing temperatures, and having to clean and scrape our cars every morning, every day, forever?
If it was always winter that would be bad indeed. But what if it were always winter and never Christmas? That would be even worse! You know, we may not always like the ice and snow and cold, but at least when it gets cold around here, it’s a sign that Christmas is coming. And for many people, Christmas is that bright spot in the middle of winter that somehow makes it all worth it. But what if there were no Christmas? What if the Christmas season never came? Think about it—no holiday decorations, no family gatherings, no Christmas carols or concerts, no Christmas trees… no manger.
That’s how it was in Narnia under the oppression of the White Witch. Narnia was a world that was in slavery and bondage to an evil ruler. It was a world that was under a curse and waited for that curse to be lifted. It was a world where it was always winter. It was a world that was not as it should be and awaited restoration. It was a world very much like ours.
Our world is also under a curse, the curse of sin, and the whole creation waits for that curse to be lifted. Romans 8:19-21 tells us: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. In many ways Narnia’s ceaseless winter is a symbol of our dark world before Christ came and brought the good news of salvation by faith alone.
This year at Messiah we celebrated Advent early. There were 150 women worshipping, singing, and sharing stories—stories that at first seemed shrouded in darkness, but ultimately shed brilliant light on news of great joy! This reminded me that faith is the assurance of things hoped for. As the world had once waited in hopeful anticipation of the One who would save them from darkness, I now eagerly awaited. It reminded me of my childhood and how good waiting could be.
As a child I longed for a snowy Christmas Eve, squinting at the colored lights, wondering about the baby in the manger, and singing Silent Night in the dark by candlelight alone. As an adult, with children of my own, the particular sense of joy that I feel this year is in my longing—longing that comes from a promise that was made from the beginning of time. A promise that was made through the prophets. A promise that was kept. A promise of a perfect gift.
Stir up out hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By His coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world. Take away the hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth that we may receive you with joy and serve you always. Amen
