Longest Light

Every family in Germany is familiar with the Advents wreath, a horizontal wreath of evergreens topped with four candles and other natural decorations like dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks. The four candles represent the four Sundays preceding Christmas, the time of Advent. The first candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, and on each of the next three Sundays an additional candle is lit. On the last Sunday of Advent, all four candles are lit. The candlelights symbolize the hope and peace Christ brought to earth. The circular wreath represents eternal life, Christ's victory over death. The evergreens are a sign of God's unconditional faithfulness to His people. 

But the story behind the wreath is a little fuzzy. Back in the Middle Ages, Christians in Northern Europe lit fires and candles in the dark month of December to represent their hopeful expectation of Christ's second coming to earth. Some say that the whole thing was started by a German pastor in Hamburg whose mission children asked incessantly if it was Christmas yet. Most agree that the Advents wreath's roots go back even further to a time when the dark days surrounding the winter solstice troubled ancient minds, and people made a symbol of their hope in the renewed light of Spring. In these earliest wreaths, the circular wheel represented the ongoing cycle of seasons, the evergreens symbolized the persistence of life even in the depth of winter, and the candles were a sign of hope that, when the long dark winter was over, the sun would shine again. 

As we approach our first winter solstice living in Germany, the sun's scarcity has taken us by surprise. The days are short, and the nights are long. The brilliant, rich German Christmas traditions, yet so new and novel to us, have delighted our hearts and lightened our steps during this Christmas season. God's drawing new hearts slowly but surely to Himself gives meaning to our days. But, nevertheless, the dark skies have seeped into our hearts, and we miss family and friends more than ever before. 

So tonight I walk up to our little Advents wreath with pine cones and red candles, feeling the troubled darkness of its earliest makers. Tonight we light all four candles. The flickering candlelight shines down onto the pine needles, so green and lively, while winter's first snow holds other life forms in cold stillness tonight. God is faithful - always loving just the same, no matter what the sky is doing. No matter what I am doing for that matter. The lights surround the wreath; tonight the circle is complete. Christ lives and reigns without end! And He has bought my eternal life with His own blood, shed in love for me. The candle wax melts and the four flames burn strongly now, making the walls of our darkened room dance with light. 
Christ Jesus. My hope for salvation, peace with God, joy through life.

The darkness is banished. My Everlasting Light resides anew!

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has the light shined…For unto 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 9:2,6