The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:5

There are dark streets in my town.

Whole streets with no Christmas lights. You’ll drive one block with several houses all sparkly and magical, and then the next block over? Nothing. Dark streets.

Have you ever noticed this phenomena before? I never really did. But I find it troubling. Why is this whole street dark? No lights. No inflatable Santas. No nativity scenes. Nothing. Are folks on this street too lazy, or busy, or bored? Or is life just too dark?

“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light!”

O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Remember this line? It’s certainly not talking about Christmas lights! Anyone who’s ever tried to change a tiny bulb knows that these lights are anything but everlasting. Along about January 10th, most of those lights will be taken down and put away. The reindeer on the roof will be packed up on a shelf somewhere. Everyone will be settling in for the long month ahead. Christmas will be over.

But not on the dark streets. Christ never stops working in the dark places. Christ is the Everlasting Light. The Light shines brighter than Rudolph’s nose, and the dark cannot overcome it. The Light is here to stay. So when you drive past a dark street, there’s no need to look down your nose or even pity those with no tree in the window.

Are you a Christmas light looker? I am. I drive around every year, listening to Christmas music, and smiling from ear to ear. It’s fun, cheerful, and entertaining, but by no means a measure of the presence of God’s Son. This year as I drive around I’ll offer a simple prayer for the lit-up streets and the dark streets, too:

Jesus, may your Love light our ways.

Merry Christmas,

Mitch