Monday, Third Week of Advent

Sometimes staying in the dark is easier than facing the light. 

Once you have been in the dark for a while your pupils are dilated.  If bright light appears it is blinding.  When you leave a darkened movie theater those first moments in the light of day are actually painful.  You squint.  You scramble for sun glasses.  Or you shield your eyes with your hands. 

I wonder, if the brilliance of God’s love for me burst in upon me right now, would I be able to stand confident and tall, ready to respond?  Or would I initially be blinded by His light?  Would I attempt to shield the eyes of my heart’s understanding from being so suddenly exposed? 

Maybe it is an act of God’s kindness that we are given time in Advent to prepare for the approach of the Light of Christ. We have time to make adjustments in our thoughts and attitudes.  We can visit regions within that may escape our awareness when we are pursuing the busy-ness of our ordinary life. 

Our consistent Advent prayers and our patient practice of opening and preparing our hearts for Christ show that we are willing to be  enlightened and embraced by the glorious, brilliant revelation of God’s Truth and Love.