I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW…

Remember that song?

I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
bright (bright) sunshiny day.

(My apologies for putting that tune in your head for the rest of the day…)

As we close out 2016, I think I, too, can see clearly now.

But not because the rain is gone (in fact, the weather is still stormy at times), but rather because the LIGHT HAS COME.

During this season of Advent, of expectation, wanting, and longing, we hope and search for so many things.

LIGHT is one of those things.

First, a little something you need to know about me…I love lights, candles, fireworks…anything that illuminates the darkness.  This year I am especially obsessed with those LED glimmer string lights.  The battery operated ones with the flexible wire that you can stick anywhere?  They are all over my house…on the mantel, in arrangements and centerpieces, stuck in glass jars, and wrapped around practically everything.  One of my favorite things to do as dusk gently creeps in is to go around the house pushing all the little buttons and switches to turn on my tiny, sparkling bursts of joy and brightness.  I know, it doesn’t take much.

Why, though?  Why does a single candle flickering, a bowl of mini lights twinkling, or a simple tree shining in a neighbor’s yard evoke such feelings of peace, comfort, and wonder?

I think it has something to do with darkness.

Darkness brings fear, uncertainty, hopelessness, and ignorance.

When we walk into a dark room, we immediately search for the light switch before we can see or do anything.  Darkness conceals, hides, obscures, and blinds.

When we walk in darkness, we can stumble, fall, or even stand frozen with fright.

While we understand this experience on a literal level, many of us also know what it means to encounter darkness spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.

The bumps and bruises, the hurt and pain, the confusion and distortion we endure is because we cannot see things clearly.  The light has NOT come.

And if we are truly honest with ourselves, sometimes we do not want it come.

I am not talking about the sparkling shimmering light that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  What about the bright, hot, white spotlight that hurts our eyes and forces us to see things we did not even realize were there?

Lightness also exposes, reveals, and illuminates.  And it is not always pretty, right?

The lights in my hallway were off late one night when I had to grab something in the bottom of my pantry.  The only light on as I scrounged around on my knees was the fluorescent bulb from the closet.  Wow, did I get an eyeful down there on the floor!  An absolutely gross and disgusting mixture of crumbs, dog and cat hair, old goldfish and dried up fruit snacks, dust bunnies, and a few stray pasta noodles and rice kernels.  I was so appalled by what the light revealed  that I totally forgot what I went to the pantry to look for!

So there are two sides to having the light come…one we welcome and one we may not.

But is it really worth it to remain in darkness when we can experience the true joy, truth, and freedom that light can bring?

The prophet Isaiah talked about a people who were walking in this kind of darkness, desperately searching for some way to fix themselves and their broken world.  They struggled with wanting to see things, but could not accept what the light showed them.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

~Isaiah 9:2-3,6 (ESV)

The only thing that can dispel darkness is light.  And this light is not a thing or an inanimate object.

This light is a PERSON.  This light is alive, present, and powerful.

In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
 The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

~ John 1: 1-5 (NLT)

This is the truth of Christmas and the hope the birth of Jesus brings:  THE LIGHT HAS COME.

And this is why I can see clearly now.  And these are the truths I am learning as I try to walk in this light.

Let it shine.  Don’t be afraid of what the light reveals. Accept and embrace it…all of it.

Identify your darkness.  Is it spiritual, emotional, relational?  Walk into that dark room or closet and look for the light switch.

Give yourself time.  It takes awhile to adjust and orient yourself to the brightness light brings.  Take it slow and steady, but keep moving.

Hold onto to hope.  Light promotes growth and life.  It may take some time, but the Light (Jesus) will guide you if you stick close and follow Him.

Tell others about what the light has revealed to you.  Be an encouragement to others who may be walking in darkness and need to see the light.

My prayer is that 2017 will be one of illumination for all of us.  I hope to see you on the other side where we can walk in the light together…