I had the chance to spend some time with a colleague and friend the other day. In the course of our conversation she mentioned that Advent is all about points of light in the midst of the darkness. It was just an offhand comment, but it has been rolling around in my brain for the past few days.
So much of our celebration of this season centers around light: those on the tree, those on the houses in the neighborhood, the candles we light in worship each week, the glow of that star that marked the place where Jesus lay.
So today’s scripture has to do with light in the darkness. Because, after all, that is who Jesus was evern before he came into our world: he was God’s plan to give light to the dark human race.
I will lead the blind on roads they have never known;
I will guide them on paths they have never traveled.
Their road is dark and rough, but I will give light to keep them from stumbling.
This is my solemn promise. (Isaiah 42:16 CEV)
Take a moment over the next few days to notice some light in the darkness. Whether you light a candle, notice the lights on your neighbor’s houses, or sit in the glow of the lights from the Christmas tree. Notice how the light, no matter how small, pushes the darkness back. Notice that the darkness does not have the power to put out the light. Remember the One who came to be the light of the world.
Rebekah's World 
this post R. reminded me of a message I did a few years ago – and invites me once again to ask and hope we will all stop and ask ourselves
“what light can you carry into the world?”
Here were the lanterns that I shared….
We carry the lantern of hope… hope to a world that often sits in darkness. A message of hope for those who suffer and are facing serious illness. Hope for those who are mourning the loss of loved ones. The message of hope that God is with us – Emmanuel! Emmanuel – born is the King of Israel.
We carry the lantern of peace…the message of peace from Jesus our Lord who said… My peace I give to you, my peace I leave unto you. This is a message that the world longs for…that something greater than us exists message of peace in a world that longs for it. The message of peace that reminds the world that God stands in our midst today and says Peace be with you.
We carry the lantern of joy …My soul, my soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. Joy the Word we sing once again this Christmas – Joy to the World the Lord has come! WE have seen that joy! We have felt that great joy! Let us share that gift with the world!!
We carry the lantern of love:
The message that God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that those that believe in him shall never die but have eternal life.
The message of love that says…God’s love is larger than the universe – and yet small enough to fit inside our hearts. The love that has no conditions. Weak or strong, rich or poor, young or old, male or female, God loves us all….
This Christmas –> we will be celebrating once again the miracle of the Christmas story. And when we are done…the lights will dim and each one of us…we will carry our light into the world…Bringing hope, peace, joy and love to humankind.