Christmas Lighs and Christmas Lite

First published in The Daily Sentinel, Friday, Nov. 30, 2007

“Dad, when are you going to get the lights up?”

It’s not even December and I’ve heard that question (or some variation of it) at least a dozen times. Hanging lights on the house, yard, trees, bushes seems to have become the new Christmas tradition in the last decade or so. If its an outside object, then you can hang lights on it. And if you don’t already have enough objects, the stores are happy to provide you with plywood cutouts, heavy-duty wire guides, even blow-up figurines of larger-than-life Santas, Mickey Mouses, and maybe Jesus in a manger.

One of the most effective light displays that I’ve seen is actually pretty simple. A person put a spotlight in the yard facing the side of the house where there were no windows. Then he put a small cut-out shape about a foot away from the light. The small shape cast a dramatic shadow against the wall. The shape I remember seeing was of a Wiseman pointing either towards the star or his destination.

My house, however, doesn’t have such a simple outdoor decorating theme. We have tried to outline the entire roofline in the large outdoor multi-colored lights. And because we prefer a very neat, finished look, each light is mounted into a plastic holder that slides under the roof shingle. Each light is spaced according to the total length of the roofline divided by the number of lights on that strand available. (Yes, I hate doing the math, too!)

It’s a lot of work to get our lights up and looking good. And for the last several years, I have not had very much time to get that work done. December always seemed to be a fast month for me; but now that I am serving as a pastor, the month goes by so fast that I barely blink before its gone! If I can’t even catch my breath, how can I get lights up?

“Honey, the lights still aren’t up. Are you going to do it this year?”

What makes the lights so important? Why should I make them a priority over the other things I must get done? (Like writing this article about Christmas lights…) I think there are several reasons. First of all, the lights are a gift back to the community. We all enjoy driving around to look at Christmas lights. Just take a look at the lines of cars going to Point Pleasant, if you doubt me. When the lights are up on our house, we are saying “Merry Christmas” to everyone who drives by.

Secondly, Christmas lights are a reminder of the Light of the World – Jesus Christ. Isaiah 9 says this: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. … For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called, ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”

John’s gospel picks up on this theme in its opening verses: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”

Even with all of the millions of Christmas lights burning in thousands of displays, we still live in a dark world. So many times, we light up our houses, yards and trees without recognizing how much darkness remains within us. Every time we are rude, self-serving, impatient, abrupt, dishonest, and excessive, the darkness grows a little darker. But whenever we are loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled, the light of Christ shines a little brighter.

I may or may not get my Christmas lights up on my house before Christmas Day, but I pray that you will see the Christmas Light inside of me everyday. When people see you, do they see darkness or light? During this season of preparing for Christmas, focus your energies on being a Light for Christ. Otherwise, you may just be celebrating Christmas lite.