The Christmas Star

I did it. I finally broke down and bought a new star for the top of the tree. For years, an angel has done the honors, regally reigning over all things Christmas. The only problem was, she wasn’t lighted, so when the tree lights came on, she disappeared.

 

Every year since we’ve had her, I’ve said I’d wait until the after-Christmas sales and get a lighted tree topper. That’s been more than ten years now. By the time Christmas is over, I’m usually so shopped out, I just can’t face the thought of jam-packed crowds and bins of picked-over Christmas carnage, even if it is 75% off.

 

So this year, I paid full-price for a lighted star. The angel has a new home residing over a nativity scene.

 

I love the glow of the lighted tree at night, in our dark living room. I especially love the way it floods everything with a warm, cozy air. Something about that star and that tree, filled with homemade ornaments, striped candy-canes and pleasant memories, just makes me feel cozy. It sends a message of faith, family and friendship that says, “This is where you belong. You are wanted. You are accepted. You are loved.”

 

Funny how a few strings of lights and a plastic star can do all that.

 

I’m reminded that I’m supposed to be like one of the lights on that tree, all year long. Oh, I’m not the star. I’ll never be the star . . . and by myself, my one little light probably won’t make a huge difference.

 

But when my light is connected to you and you and you, we make a whole string of lights leading up to the big light—the Star—the Messiah, and together we can cast a beautiful, warm glow on a dark world.

 

And the cool thing about light is it will always, always overpower darkness. No matter how big and black the abyss may seem, one little candle will pierce right through it. As long as the light is burning, it will never be truly dark. No matter how dim the light, it is still light, and it still shines.

 

Love is our light. I’ve had to learn that again and again. My light isn’t my talent or my convictions or even my good works . . . those are all just the power cords I use to share the light. But the light that overpowers darkness and depression and sadness and anger and despair is pretty simple. It’s love.

 

When we love other people, we reflect God, because God is love. When we set aside our preferences and our differences and open our arms to other people, when we invite them into friendships, when we remind them that they are special, that they’re made in God’s image, that they’re wanted and accepted . . . when we give people a place to belong . . . when we show them what love looks like . . . that’s when we shine.

 

And when I shine and you shine and we all shine, we point people to the true light, the light that outshines us all . . . and we become a living, breathing Christmas tree . . . a living, breathing example of His love, all year long.

 

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it,” John 1:5.