The season of Advent is drawing to a
close. The great feast of Christmas draws nigh when we will again
celebrate the birth of the Christ Child in a lowly stable in a small insignificant
town more than two thousand years ago.
One of the ways in which I join with
other Christians to mark Advent is to light candles on the Advent wreath – four
candles for the four Sundays of Advent which surround the white Christ Candle
at the centre of the wreath which is lit on Christmas Day. The light of
these candles is most appropriate as it symbolizes the light that is coming
into the world at Christmas – the darkness has been overcome as noted at the
opening of the Gospel of John, “The light shines in the darkness and the
darkness did not overcome it.”
There are many associations that we can
draw upon when we think about candles beyond those on the Advent wreath.
Candles were used on the first Christmas trees when they were introduced to England
by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. These were replaced by electric
lights fortunately but I know of people who still use candles on Christmas
trees which can be done safely if proper protocols are followed. Of
course, there are the candles on birthday cakes which increase in number every
year and the birthday cakes if us Baby Boomers are becoming conflagrations. An
opportunity to make a wish for the coming year.
Candle lights still are a powerful symbol
of lighting the way and, as it says in John’s Gospel, overcoming the darkness
of this world. There are many songs and hymns which have a theme of
lights and candles. Two of my favourites are, This Little Light of Mine,
and Jesus Bids Us Shine which are both from my childhood. Here’s the
chorus for This Little Light of Mine:
This little light of mine -
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine - I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine - I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Perhaps the power of the song is the
repetition of some simple lyrics. It certainly is easy to remember and
has a message that is hard to miss. Here’s a link to the song on YouTube
to brighten your day, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCN893hzueQ.
The other favourite of mine as I noted is
Jesus Bids Us Shine. Here are the lyrics for the first verse.
Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light,
Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness, so we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.
I always think of this one as the
introvert’s theme song. In my most introverted I like to think of myself
being able to let my light shine in my small corner where I am safe and
sound. It was knowingly or not the theme of my life growing up where I
could be myself in my small corner and still let my little light shine. I
sometimes still like to retreat to my small corner and recharge my batteries –
true introvert that I am.
In any case I hope you will let your
little light shine in the darkness of this world and remember it is better to
light a candle than to curse the darkness. May you be Blessed this joyous
Christmas time.
