Well, the day has arrived and tonight we will make our way again to the stable to hear the ancient story that somehow touches us at the core of our beings! This is a time of joy and wonder and hope! However, as I pondered the words I would write today I have experienced a struggle.
Sisters of Joy and Sorrow
These last few days of the journey have been difficult ones. Our community and our faith family have been struck by great sorrow as we say farewell to three amazing and wonderful people – Alton Toole, Terry Hunt and Emiline Adams. Our world is a better place because they walked this way but now there are empty spaces at the table. I have wondered,
“How do I talk about Christmas joy in the midst of this sorrow?
With these thoughts and feelings on my mind I sat in my living room and opened a book by Joyce Rupp called “The cup of Life” and my eyes fell on a quote from Macrina Wiederkehr
“The most helpful dicovery of today has been that right in the midst of my sorrows there is always room for joy. Joy and sorrow are sisters; they live in the same house.”
The Promise
I realized how true this is and began to think again about the story of Christmas and the birth of the Christ Child. The child was born in a place that no one would choose to give birth yet surrounded by love and amazing grace. There were countless visitors who came to see and share in this joy and there were those who came with news that others sought the child’s life. It is a story of both joy and sorrow. But in the midst of this comes the promise that the light will eradicate the darkness and the darkness will not put it out.
In The Heart Of Love
So today, as I prepare to join with you and experience again the birth of light in our world, I come with the sisters of joy and sorrow and recognize that we are held in the heart of love. We will see the star and be embraced by the divine light.
Blessings
Valerie
© Rev. Valerie Peyton Kingsbury. All Rights Reserved.