And yet, and yet…

I got electrocuted by Baby Jesus.

So in my life, I have gotten mildly electrocuted not a few times. Cleaning walls, changing fire alarms, messing with electric fences, and once as a kid out of basic curiosity examining an outlet. It is a strange feeling, like getting shaken, the wind knocked out of you, and being simultaneously punched in the hand and stomach at the same time.

So this year as we were very far behind on getting our Christmas decorations up, I went outside to put up our light up nativity scene in the dark on a rainy night (starting off on a great step). As I was hastily plugging in the lights, I failed to notice that on the nativity I had only seated one of the terminals and left the other one exposed. When the nativity failed to light up, I reached in by Baby Jesus (tender and mild), and received a shock that knocked out the breaker. I was less than pleased with myself and just barely avoided using some language that Baby Jesus would not appreciate.

In this season of light, sometimes the light is not just seen but felt. And this is not always in positive ways. Because often in the church we push hard in sharing the grace of Jesus with others, but in our haste to reach as many as possible we leave some only partly plugged in. And when people hit the difficulties that inevitably surround the Christmas season they wonder: why is my life not lighting up? Where is the promise of this peace in the midst of the insanity of life?

Friends, we have to slow down.

The gift of Christmas is that regardless of our successes, our failures, and our plans, Jesus came anyway. He didn’t wait for the world to be ready and he didn’t wait for us to be perfect. But God knew our need and even while we were still sinners sent his only Son , who “is our peace.” And that light was felt.

Take time in this season not to focus on those plans not yet fulfilled. Spend time with open eyes and hearts to those that God is calling to himself. Spend love and prayer with families that are hurting and celebrating in this season. If we are the light of the world as Scripture tells us, let’s not electrocute one another with a rush of transactional events and love. But let our light be felt as we raise hands and hearts to heaven to give thanks to him for his grace upon us.

“Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light. Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus Lord at thy birth. Jesus Lord at thy birth.”

The true light, which gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God… John 1:9-12