Longing and hope

The mournful minor key of “O Come O Come Immanuel” always captures well the posture of the Christian’s heart—longing for Jesus to come again and bring us home.  It also well fits the spirit of the season, when daylight is waning and temperature is dropping.  Don’t leave us in the cold dark, Jesus; come to us.

But this year.  Oh, this year.  

Some of us fight anxiety when the sun is shining and the metaphorical birds are singing.  And now we’ve spent nine months trying not to breathe on anyone, knowing that our actions could take down all our best loved ones.  December’s short days and long nights are closing in; gloom pervades; death’s shadow hovers behind us more than ever.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,

And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

We may not see our favorite loved ones this Christmas.  We may not open presents at Grandma’s house.  All manner of festivities are cancelled.  All of 2020 feels like Advent this year.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Praise God for peeling our hearts painfully away from this world, which can never bring peace and comfort and joy.  If not this year, in 2020, when will we ask the real questions:  What does it all mean?  Is Anyone in charge up there?  How long does this life last and what happens when it’s all over?  If not now, when will we lift our eyes above this world, to what is eternal—to Whom is eternal?  

If it’s not violence or a plague, it will be heart disease or simple old age.  This world is not forever for us.  And left to ourselves, our lasting prospects are darkness and gloomy night.  

Enter Christmas 2020.  Rejoice!  Rejoice!  There is hope.  The Light has come, and He will come again.  He cheers us by drawing nigh to us.  He came to enter our world of sin and gloom and sickness—to die for those who fight over the Christmas cookies. 

How thankful we are that He came.

For we need a little Christmas

Right this very minute,

Candles in the window,

Carols at the spinet...

For we need a little music,

Need a little laughter,

Need a little singing

Ringing through the rafter,

And we need a little snappy

“Happy ever after,”

Need a little Christmas now.