Hello darkness my old friend…I know lately my posts haven’t been super uplifting, but I am trying really hard to be real, vulnerable, and open. Christmas has always (since 2006), been a difficult time of year for me and this is the first time I can honestly say I am dealing with it. 

2020 has been a year of “dealing with it” for many. A year to no longer push down the pain, grief, and reality of the weight on our shoulders, but instead to have them standing right in front of our faces. For many of us we are seeing for the first time the depth of the circumstances we have been avoiding. This can often be the result of years of avoidance. 

Hiding under the covers until it goes away is easier, but I am pulling my inner Kevin McCallister “This is my house, I have to defend it.” 

One way I have been doing this is writing. I want to challenge you to write. Write out your feelings, emotions, trauma, and all the things. Earlier this week as I was reflecting, I wrote down you can’t have light without the dark. Darkness is okay. It is okay to feel sorrow, grief, and down right misery. Have you ever met someone who couldn’t see all the good that was before them because they had been handed everything in life? Once we experience difficulty we are able to appreciate the good. The only way we can appreciate the light is to be in the dark. 

If you too are struggling in this season, I want to tell you nevertheless. Why? Because it doesn’t matter what you have been through yesterday, last month, or 15 years ago today is a new day and in spite of this, you will come through on the other side. 

We see this time and time again in the Bible. Isaiah 9 begins with “Nevertheless…” This tell us that despite the pain, misery, of the nation in the chapters before we can see good news coming. 

Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

This is for you, this is for me, this is not just for the nation at this time but for those of us today who feel like we are walking in darkness! 

How incredible is it that Isaiah 9 was written about 700 years before the birth of Jesus and yet this is what was written:

6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Here we are 2000 years later still celebrating the birth of Jesus. What a wonderful reminder each year that despite our pain, grief, and darkness there is a light in Jesus Christ. The day will come when all darkness will completely disappear. We will be again with those we love. We will be able to see only the good in those around us. And we will be surrounded by His Glory. 

This season as you find yourself singing Simon and Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence, “Hello darkness my old friend…” just remember the light is coming so breathe my friend.