Today is the shortest day of the year. Here in Atlanta the sun sets by 5:00. When I visited Nashville, the sun set as early as 4:00PM. This is the time of the year that I most associate with night. This is the time of year that on some days I drive to work in the morning in the dark and then drive home in the evening in the dark, never seeing the sun. This is a very bleak feeling.

It is a fascinating juxtaposition that at this darkest time of the year, we are given the most hope. Christmas tells us that something big is coming, something is going to redeem us. Our time has finally come. No one knew what was going to happen, but everyone involved in Bethlehem from Joseph and Mary to the shepards to the wise men knew that something was about to happen. At the time when things seemed dark, when their very lives were ruled by a far away empire, there was a single light in a star that tells us all hope is not lost. I wonder if its a coincidence that all of this happens at the darkest time of the year?

The tug of war for the winter holidays seems to rage on. From one side, I hear that it is insensitive and rude to wish people “Merry Christmas.” From another side, I hear that it is watered-down and politically correct to wish people “Happy Holidays.” The TV tells me at all hours that I’m not a very thoughtful person if I don’t buy diamonds, cars, and video game systems for those that I love for Christmas. So many seem to hide under a shell of bitterness about this season because of past hurts or disapointments. I can understand why all of this causes so much stress, what with the past hurts and the demanding future schedule of commitments that we make at this time of year. It all does appear to be as dark it can get.

I don’t want any part of the Christmas the world wants me to have. They can have their expectations and demands and opinions on what this time of year should be about. I don’t want to buy their goods. I want Christ the child in a manger. I want a midnight candlelight service. I want to wish for Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all men. I want to sing “Away in a Manger” and “Silent Night.” That’s all that I need during this season. I want the tiny dot of light that cuts through the darkness.

Many years ago, this time of year symbolized the end of a dark period in my life and the hope of a new era. It’s still true today. Linford Detweiler once described this time of year as the part where the year finishes burning down (“if we’re lucky, we’ll all smell like smoke”) and I always loved that description. This is the time of year I reflect on the past year and assess all the achievements and failures, put them at rest and make a commitment to the new year. It will be good to get another chance, another year, and see what I can do with it.

There’s hope even now when it’s darkest that brighter days are ahead.