Stillness... then shine

     I love the early morning--the stillness  of the predawn darkness, the quiet possibility of a new day still before us but the peace of the evening still resting in the air.  I sit before our Christmas tree and smile at the twinkling lights and the ornaments of love scattered over the tree--all those preschool wreaths with the children's pictures inside, the handmade snowflakes and stars, the soccer-playing santa and the angels and the cardinal and the old old round balls and the cocoa cola ornaments.  Each suffused with memories and joy.  Thank You Lord.
     It's just so easy this time of year to forget to slow down for a few minutes and savor it all.  See and remember and savor all that is behind the decorations and the hoopla and the traditions.  When we get caught up in the excitement and sucked into the cauldron of frenzy and busyness, we miss so much. We miss Christ in the midst of our frantic efforts to celebrate Christmas.
     I just read in Luke 2 where Mary, after the shepherds visit, "treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." (v.19)  That's why we need some stillness and space each day during Advent--to treasure up all God has done in sending us Jesus.  To treasure up and ponder all that He has given us  in His Son and in His extravagant grace in our lives in general.  His gifts of the people we love, the places we love, the daily activities and work we often take for granted but that, deep down, we love.
     If we don't slow down for a few moments and simply sit and savor, we miss them.  Miss Him.  And in missing Him, miss the joy and peace and strength and love He came to give us.  Time spent treasuring and pondering, even for just a few minutes, grounds us in Him for the rest of the day.  I can't think of another way to say it--it's a grounding of joy and peace and strength in Him that carries us through whatever busyness and challenges the day may bring.
     But after those moments of seeing and savoring, God calls us to go back out into our world and shine His Light.  I love that in the very next verse, we are told: "And the shepherds returned,, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." (v.30)   We have to "return."  We can't just sit by the tree all day and ponder!  God calls us to get out there and reflect His light, share His love, care for His people and His world.  Praising Him and loving His people--being His hands and feet in our jobs, our homes, our schools, our neighborhoods.
     After the stillness, then shine wherever God has placed you.
     We're called to brighten the world with His light and love by giving Him glory, doing all He's called us to do... but with transformed hearts that adore Him within and reflect Him without.
     So today, might you see and savor, treasure and ponder the Gift of Jesus and the gifts of God in your life.  Even if it's just a few minutes of space and stillness.   And then go out there and shine in your world.  Make a difference by reflecting His light and love to a dark and desperate world.
     To God be the glory.