January 2020
Account of Hope
“3 Then God said, “Let there be light,”; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:3-4)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:1-5, NRSV).
We may see many lights at the stores and on the streets in the season of the holiday. The lights give us feeling warm and lovely mind. Most people in this season are more generous than other times. They would share their gifts and love with one another as if they would pay it forward for the gratitude of a year. Besides, they are generous to themselves. In this season, most people end up a year reviewing many things and begin with making new plans for a new year. I think that lots of lights lead us to be generous and to have new hope. Every year in this season, we are filled with hope, joy, and love. This hope is like a light, and it comes with the light. When we are filled with joy, we do not care about hope.
On the other hand, when we are in despair, we would be eager to find hope as if the light is shiny more in the darkness than in the brightness. The Apostle John says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” If you find even a tiny light, do not disappoint for it. If you walk toward the light, someday you are among the light with joy.
We sometimes forget that a small light has great power, which gives us hope. I had the experience of a little light that gave me a big hope, and the light guided me in a way. It was a few years ago when I was a seminarian. I was writing my final paper. I was about almost to be done for my paper. My feeling was higher because after finishing my paper, I would be free during the whole summer. At that moment, however, the electronic power is suddenly gone. I felt panic because my computer was also gone. I felt the whole world are dark. The light was gone. I lost hope. I felt my paper on a computer was also gone. I could not see anything around me be-cause it was deeply dark.
I felt almost cry. I had no idea. Even I couldn’t cry out because my feeling was too much panic. So, I just kept silent until my emotion became fine from that happens. After I was calm down a little bit, I started to pray. After for a while, I opened my eyes. I recognized I can see around me in the darkness. And I could see my desk and my computer in darkness, even though it was dim.
I opened my drawer in the desk; I found a box of small candles for a birthday cake. I lit a candle. Till then, I did not know that a tiny candle makes it bright around me. When I saw the little candles, my disappointment disappeared. I tried to find hope through a tiny candle. Suddenly, I whispered by myself, “Let it be light.” I thought that if this small candle makes like this much bright around me, how bright the light of God is! I was looking at the light the candle made.
Eventually, I felt calm and peaceful. The candle was melting as if it is tearing. The tiny candle was melted shortly. I lit the other candle, and I went to the basement to find the box of power with the small candles. However, I had to light another candle on my way. These small candles could guide me to the basement where was the box of power. I used several candles un-til I got there. Finally, I got the power back. My paper was back to my computer also. I thought that the small candles were useless at first, but it was beneficial for me.
Each one may be weak, but they could work together to be strong. Each candle may sacrifice themselves for others. As like it, we may be weak, but our Lord is strong. If we light a fire of love continually, someday we may see the bright world filled with love and hope. We try to find hope because we have experienced disappointment as if a light is much more brilliant and shines in the darkness. I believe that people who are in despair and hopelessness may find a way to go for hope even though they could not find the way yet. Therefore, if you were in darkness or despair, do not panic. Stay there for a while, and you may see what you need. It may guide you toward a way to find the light. Hope begins from the reality of despair, which means where you are. At the moment you are out of the despair, you may find hope because “God separated the light from the darkness.”
We prayed to be the light in the world sharing candlelight at Christmas Eve service. I hope we make the world bright. We would be Christians like a road sign toward hope. Someday we may see the world filled with bright light. May 2020 be a blessed year that everyone who is looking for hope finds it out.
Blessings,
Pastor Jenny