Light

I find light in all its iterations compelling. I often sit crossed legged in front of our bedroom fireplace with a fire and/or just a candle on the hearth. Sometimes I listen to music or beat a drum as I watch the flames. Sometimes I just sit. Last night I sat and thought mostly about Light. It is a core idea in my life, physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. For me at root ALL light is spirit-filled and spiritual– the source of life and truth and love. Consider D&C 88:6-13 and then relate it to something as basic as the food chain and photosynthesis.

Yesterday my husband and I sat together in our south facing family room. For just a little while the sun was pouring in, in a most unseasonable way. It was just nice to bask in real sunlight. Winter sunshine is often a rare commodity. I have a SAD light I use almost every morning—it chases away depression that so easily besets me, courtesy of my Scandinavian ancestors.

I am the woman who “invents” celebrations around here. All the holidays but especially Christmastime are filled with light. We talk about Christ as the Light and Life of the World. We talk about Christ as the Creator. We talk about why Christ had to come (see 2 Nephi 9:5-23). We talk about the glorious day when Christ will come again. (What kind of holiday or celebration might we have to celebrate and remember that day?) We sing Christmas music together and even a Millennial song or two; such as Joy to the World, I Wonder When He Comes Again, or Adam-ondi-Ahman

This year it looks like we will have about 25 people for Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is one of the highpoints of my personal liturgical calendar. For openers I have always felt blessed that all of our children married into families who celebrate Christmas Day so we get Christmas Eve (except for those who now live out of state.). We start our ritual celebration as soon as it is dark, about 5:30, so we can get everyone back home as early as possible. Our long tables are set end to end for a sit-down dinner with every candle we can round up ready to be lit.

As a safety note we have a paper cup filled with baking soda at each place and we have no other flammables on the table. As an additional safety precaution, every child is seated by at least one adult. Our final safety accommodation may cause some bloggers to gasp. We haven’t had a tree for about 8 years now. This decision was totally pragmatic, not in any degree philosophical. With all the live fire from candles on Christmas Eve in our family room and our living rooms chuck full of our about 3 dozen international nativities, something had to go. For us it was the tree. We honestly haven’t missed it. We do have lots of decorated garland. Incidentally, garland is much easier to put up and take down. And we still, after more than 40 years, give each of our children (and ourselves) an annual ornament.

So on Christmas Eve we start in a totally dark room with a daughter-in-law leading out in singing O Come All Ye Faithful, and then other Jesus Christmas songs. Two grandchildren get their candles lit from me and then proceed down each side of the tables handing the candles to the seated people who light the candles in front of them and then the candles are handed back to the grandkids who hand them to the next person and so on. Even children hardly more than babies have wanted to and can participate with help.

Periodically we read scriptures about Jesus as the Life and Light of the world. We keep singing, reading and lighting candles until the whole room is full of light. We end with singing Joy to the World, which everyone in our family now knows is a Millennial song. We then have the blessing and eat.

This simple but dramatic ceremony keeps Christ absolutely in the center of this holy night.

These are our Christmas Eve scriptures—

Jesus Christ Is the Light of the World [written on one side of a card, on the other side is one of the following scriptures.]

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2

[Jesus said], I am the light which shineth in darkness. D&C 6:21

Truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. He is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and power thereof. . . . and the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through [Christ] who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understanding. . . . the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things. D&C 88:7, 11, 13

[Jesus said], I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:12

[Jesus said], I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments. 1 Nephi 17:13

[Jesus said], Ye are the light of the world. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14, 16