Christmas Lights

I love all the lights at Christmas. For several years, Kathy and I worked at the PTL Network and we had a million lights throughout the park every Christmas. It was wonderful to drive in or out at night during the Christmas season. Here in St. Louis we love going to the Shrine of Our Lady Of the Snows to see the lights, or drive through the Busch headquarters. But I also love the lights on the outside of our house, and on the inside. I enjoy reading or watching television in our living room with just a lamp to read and the mini white lights on. We have them on our tree, on garland on the stairs and on our fireplace mantle. Tonight I sat at the piano in our sanctuary and rehearsed music for this weekend's Christmas concert with just a piano lamp and the white lights on the big wreaths and 12' tree that are in there. After I finished rehearsing, I sat and played for another half hour or so, Christmas carols that I love to play. I've been toying with the idea of recording another piano CD and tonight I was really inspired by the atmosphere as I experimented with different chords and rhythms for some of the carols. I think I'll work on the arrangements through the winter and record next summer. I probably shouldn't bury the mini white lights too far in our Christmas boxes, I might need to pull them out for inspiration when it's 95 degrees outside and humid and I'm inside recording Christmas music.

I think I love the light because of what it does to the darkness. Even the smallest light pushes the darkness away. It is not a wonder that a name for Christ is Light of the World. It is so fitting that we use Christmas lights during this season. Even people who treat this as a completely secular holiday put up lights, symbolizing the Light of the World. If you feel the darkness of the press of life surrounding you, go find some Christmas lights. As you view their beauty, ask the Light of the World to surround you with His light. He will...