Advent Begins — Shed A Little Light

“Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;” Romans 13:13

Here we are again, in the season of light, experiencing a dark and dreary day due to a snowstorm. Because of this, it was hard to find my mojo and tap into what I wanted to bring to this season. So, instead, I baked. But I was in a bit of a fugue, though I wasn’t sure why. Something was bothering me, but I am not convinced it is a valid grievance. Still, my lesser self allowed it to stew as I was making a batch of cranberry bread.

The recipe is my mothers and is a hit whenever we have it. It is moist and just the right combination of sweetness and tartness. My mother always cut the cranberries in half, so I do. (Or rather, my daughter does.) She also adds a “secret ingredient” that gives it that signature moisture. It really is delicious. I didn’t have any of the “secret ingredient” on hand. So, I made do. But I had a thought as I was making it and stewing unreasonably, to be careful not to transfer my anger into the bread. (I am convinced that emotions while baking or cooking can be tasted.)

Fast forward a couple of hours and it is coming out of the oven. It seemed a little dry, and a little light for that matter. It didn’t seem to rise right. What was wrong with my bread? Oh well. That can happen. But just to satisfy my curiosity I decided to taste it. At which time I also spat it out.

Puh! Eww!! Oh no! Oh.

I forgot the sugar.

My sixteen year old was listening to me from the next room and chuckling. “Here let me try it, it can’t be worse than the Egyptian Bread that kid made.” It’s saving grace was that it wasn’t as bad as the worst bread she had ever eaten. High praise indeed!

So what does this have to do with Advent and Light?

Everything.

What we bring to this season and what we put into it will determine what we glean from it. Advent is a time to take inventory; to prepare our hearts, to ready ourselves and our homes for the One who is to come. The call to have us slow down, to sit in the dark and dreary days, to let God work his wonder within us is a call that nourishes and grows our relationship with God.

In a time when darkness seems to have the upper hand, putting on our own “armor of light” can seem difficult. But it is really self-preserving. By dwelling in the Light we allow ourselves to be warmed, loved and cared for in a way that nothing outside of our Creator can provide. That deepest quiet, that most profound stillness, that place where nothing temporal can touch us is the very place that we need to sit ourselves down. It is in that space that we allow ourselves to feel and embrace mercy, forgiveness and genuine love.

But we have to allow ourselves that space. Just as the bile that was churning in me came out in my bread (there was no sweetness in my heart while preparing it!) so too can the grievances and anger we carry in our lives overshadow the gift available to us during this season. So let’s lay all of that down. Let’s ask God to take all of it from us and let’s trust that He will. Let’s work together during this season to prepare our hearts in such a way that can never lessen our light. Let’s move through this together.

Here is an oldie but a goodie that kept coming to mind while I was thinking of this. Love Is the Answer by England Dan and John Ford Coley.

•