Most "Daily Voice" readers live in North America, in the time of year when the sun seems distant and days become shorter. The promised coming of the child we sing about in songs like, "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light" mirrors the promise that shortly after December 21st, the days will again seem to lengthen. It’s easy for us to think of Christ’s coming as synonymous with the return of the sun.
If you happen to be in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Dec. 21, you might stop by First United Methodist Church, sit in quiet contemplation and mark the Winter Solstice. First Church is an appropriate location because, as the northernmost United Methodist church on earth, the parishioners will see only 3 hours, 42 minutes of daylight that day. ...
The former pastor of the church, Dick Smith, said that the darkest day of the year is particularly significant to his parishioners. "Most Alaskans have a unique opportunity to understand why the ancient church chose the Winter Solstice to celebrate the birth of the light of the world into human existence," he says. "Christmas has a physical as well as a spiritual meaning for those of us up here in the North."
While the beauty of the surroundings appeals to some, the darkness and isolation are significant issues for Alaskans. "Even for those who live in large cities like Anchorage, there is the isolation from family and friends who live 'outside,'" Smith says. "Outside" is a term that Alaskans use to refer to anyplace outside their state.
Just think for a bit about how much where you live affects the way you perceive the Advent season. The Midwest locale where Sally and I live brings extra meaning to Advent wreaths made with evergreens and hymns and carols like “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” or “In the Bleak Midwinter.”
But what about our neighbors in the southern hemisphere, our brothers and sisters down-under? How do they mark these days? I’m certain they also hope to walk as children of the light. Day and night are just as present there, and they too prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ as we do. They try, as do I, to find ways to repel the many ways the culture commercializes a sacred observance.
Probably, Christians in the southern hemisphere enjoy a celebration of the strength of the sun, as well as the blessings of a summer season, as symbols of God’s powerful presence in a newborn. Maybe they see the abundance of the natural world as a sign of God’s generous gifts to humankind. Undoubtedly, like us, they look with longing toward the birth of God in a stable, born to shine in our hearts and in our world. Around the world, Christians carry the same desire: to walk as children of the light, and to follow Jesus as his example leads us in a ministry of hope and love to the whole creation.
~ Tim Gossett