“God is Light.” The angels proclaim it this Christmas Day.

My wife Lynne is an amateur photographer. She loves it. When I’m watching her compose a shot I sometimes comment on the thing I think she’s taking a picture of. I often ask why she chose that. And often she says, “I didn’t. I’m not taking a picture of the thing. I’m taking a picture of light.” She sees how light dances and illumines, reflects and refracts, and reveals things in new, well . . . light. And later, when I see the photo, I see what she means. She sees things by light moving at, on, around, and sometimes through them. And so, it’s not the thing she’s picturing.  It’s the light. On this Christmas Day, may you see God in that way.  Light. May you see more of the Light of God shining at, on, around, and through. Like Rembrandt’s paintings of the Nativity, with the baby in the manger as the only source of light in the space, may you see life illumined by Christ. May Light save you from the fear of night. May Light save you from losing your way. May Light reveal the texture of God for you. 

- adapted from Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, an Advent Devotional published by Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, p. 36.