Light is kindled in the darkness when our hope seems most absurd
Beacons through a shrouded future, pledges of Christ’s steadfast word:
Gifts of goodness yet unfold us- all around, beneath, above-
Signs of beauty still persisting, symbols of God’s constant love.
Though the wrong appears victorious-vi’lence, prejudice, and pride-
Hope still rises from the wreckage; joy and grief stand side by side.
We will feel both pain and promise, terror’s sting and love’s new birth,
As we walk in light and shadow on Gods’ blessed and bleeding earth.
Raise your candle in the darkness though the wick of faith burns low.
Feed the fire with grace and justice and in wonder watch it grow.
As we gather flames together ‘till they shine with warmth and light
God dispels the night of hatred and the blaze of love burns bright.
— David Bjorlin (c) GIA 2017
Perhaps it’s obvious, but in month ten of a global pandemic, ongoing and persistent systemic racism, and the social isolation we’ve all experienced, this will be an Advent season like none we’ve experienced before. Advent is anticipation and waiting for the coming Christ child, the Light of the World, to enter into our darkness. But there remains a tension in the waiting and the hoping- the tension between the two comings of Christ. But how do we live in the in-between? How is hope embraced?
In the gospel of John, we read, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Psalm 139:12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Even the darkness is as light to God, because God IS light ! And it is in clinging to the Light of the World we have the courage to live in hope. Our eyes are now drawn to the light because the Light abides in and with us.
And so, in hope, we gather our witness of light in the midst of the darkness. In doing so we dispel the darkness that seeks to envelop us. We lay claim to the One who declared himself as the Light of the World. This is a faithful act of rebellion to look for light-to remember and declare that the darkness is only dark to us-not to God. Darkness and light are the same to God. Darkness needs light in order to fulfill its purpose. Just as we need God in order to not be consumed by the darkness.
— Dean Deb Auger
For the remaining weeks of this fall semester, let us “gather our flames of light together” that darkness and hate, fear and overwhelm, would be dispelled by the love and light of the coming Christ. Each week, we ask that you send in photos of your own experience of light, whether that is a candle at your workspace, a sunset on an evening walk, or a string of lights in a window- snap a pic and send it to semservices@northpark.edu. We will put them together to make an installation of community and hope.
Here is one idea from a current student!
Last year, friends and I made these advent candles that get burned once a day. The whole point of burning them was to watch the numbers melt away and thus the days until Christmas got closer. While the number melts away, the goal is to sit and reflect on what waiting for a savior means and why it feels so difficult! Every day last advent, I spent twenty to thirty minutes in prayer, watching this candle burn. There were days I accidentally burnt more than one number, I broke that poor candle at least three different times, it traveled with me from Minnesota
to Chicago to Wisconsin, and I have since convinced others to join me in making their own candles. Advent was never a huge part of my childhood traditions and since taking the time to learn about Advent and spend dedicated time thinking and praying, Advent has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the Christian calendar. This year, there feels like a lot to wait for. I feel like we’ve been waiting for so long and still have time to wait, which is my least favorite thing to do. Dedicating time to wait with God is so much better than waiting by myself.