The most wonderful thing when you are lost on a night-time walk? A lamp.
Some years ago in a small village in the Peak District we took a group carol singing at eight o’clock in the evening. What we hadn’t counted on was a dearth of streetlamps and a very dark night. Steep country lanes with well-hidden houses… what could possibly go wrong?
A few carols cheered up some cows, who told us to “Mooo-ve off.” Others produced cheery greetings from villagers who were a) surprised carol singers would “come here” and b) surprised we actually found the cottages!
Eventually we reached the main crossroads- and there was a lamp. We did a quick head count, nobody missing… Carol sheets at the ready, we sang with enthusiasm (can’t guarantee the musicality) and even attracted a group who came out to listen.
What was the point? We took Light with us: the glorious news of a Saviour’s birth. Then we discovered that even a little light can beat off the darkness. Better to shine a candle than scream at the dark. We gathered round the village lamp because we could see, we could read or lyrics, we could even recognise the audience.
It’s a bit late to write about carols, candles and Christmas. I’m grieving the disappearance of the Christmas light displays from our locality… all the joy and fun of the illuminations made the streets brighter and better.
Perhaps all we can do now is to shine like a lamp in our darkened world. There is good precedent-
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8 v12)
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…
The Reflectionary 