It's Cold Out There

Winter has definitely arrived. As you stand on the right side of the glass, you can look out the window and see all the signs that make you realize winter has arrived in this part of the country. The fields have given up their crops and now lay bare.  It’s been a while since the last leaves of summer have turned their God given colours and fallen. Then we notice the hint of snow lying along windblown lines of roads and sidewalks. The cold crisp crystal clear air gives us another sign of winter that is wrapped in a darkness that falls so early and a daylight that breaks way too late. All signs of winter.

The glass in front of you is cold to the touch and you retract it quickly and place it again on the warm coffee mug. Someone walks by out there in the cold. Bundled up, head to toe, they wave their glove covered hand to you. You wave back with the now warmed hand as you observe the frosted breath in front of them.  Yes, it’s cold and this has just started. There are four more months of this. Did you notice there are not as many people out walking, and fewer cars driving about? But we are inside, nice and warm.

For some, this is the best time to stay inside, all curl up on the couch and just take notice of all that winter in Canada has to offer. But this is not how we live. We do venture out, where we are greeted by so many homes decorated and flooded with lights for Christmas. It is another sign of winter. These are the wonderful signs of Christmas, of happy times, wonderful times, family times and joyful times. Winter for all of us is more than cold and snow. This indeed is Christmas.

A few days from now we will engage in another sign of Christmas. Sunday will be the first Sunday of Advent. The sign it brings will be the lighting of one solitary candle, the candle of Hope. As you gaze at this candle, ask yourself what are you hoping for? No, not as a gift on Dec. 25^th. What do you hope for? In this dark time of winter, living in a dark world, what are you hoping for? Over two thousand years ago, the Jewish people were hoping for a deliverer, a Saviour, who would be a gift from God. God answered their prayer. He came and lived and breathed and did all He was called to do.  God has not changed, He still answers prayer. What is your hope?

It’s dark outside right now, and what I hope for as we prepare to light the first candle is that its light will break through the darkness and bring light to your life and mine. I hope Christ will come to your home and to your heart this Christmas. He’s alive and is still the sign of God’s love, wrapped up in all that we hope for.

Something to think about

Rob