Health & Fitness
The Darkest Time of the Year
Dec. 25 was chosen as Jesus' birthday because because that's when we need joy, peace, comfort, and salvation.
One of my hobbies is to sell books on Amazon, and today I put in the mail a little book titled Comforting Thoughts for the Holidays. You would think that such a book would not be needed because the holidays are supposed to be about "Joy to the World" and "Peace on Earth Good Will to all." But for many people, the holidays are the most difficult time of the year. They bring up traumatic memories for persons who have experienced abuse or deprivation. They bring up grief for persons who have lost someone dear to them. They bring up feelings of guilt and shame for persons who suffer from addictions. They bring up feelings of inadequacy in persons who feel obligated to decorate the house inside and out, bake dozens of cookies, and find the perfect gifts. And they bring up loneliness for persons who are separated from their families and friends.
Add to those dark feelings the reality that the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder and many people are beginning to suffer from the winter blues. The "blues" can be accentuated by the expectation that this is a "happy" season. But oddly enough Christmas is meant to address those feelings of coming darkness.
It is almost certain that the 25th of December is not the actual birthday of Jesus. Instead, it was chosen as the day to express the affirmation by Early Christians as to His purpose. It was chosen as the date for His birth as a way to proclaim that Jesus is the light who shines in our darkness. December 25th was chosen because it is at the darkest time of the year, and it is exactly at that time of the year that we need joy and peace and comfort and salvation.
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Many churches have begun having Blue Christmas or Longest Night Services during the holidays. One that I would recommend to you is the Longest Night Service at 4PM on Dec. 21st at Centenary United Methodist Church. It is the time when people in St. Louis will gather to remember and commemorate all those who had died homeless in St. Louis during the past year. Please come.
Joy and peace in your darkness, Dori