Epiphany

As Epiphany rolls into our homes and we see the changing of them we have a chance to reflect on what may have been "in the way".  With a new year comes new surprises, new delights, new friends, and a whole world of beauty that we need to offer.  This blessed Twelfth Night has many traditions - the annual blessing of our homes and families and the expulsion of that which is not desirable to make room for the Christ Child and the salvation that comes only through Him.

Today the tree and lights came down.  The train board is put away and stored for the next year.  The stocking holders go into storage and the leftover candy becomes designated to become repurposed for Super Bowl treats.  Now that I've shared the "perfect world" we all like to show, let's be real.

The tree had been up for 3 years.  Yup - 3 years.  For reasons I am not willing to admit on the internet the tree and trainboard which take up 1/5 of our living room and 75% of the natural light have been there.  The stocking holders?  Yeah - I don't even remember the last time they weren't up there - so I'm guessing 5+ years.  Possibly longer.  I know they came down the first year or two we lived here but after that it's kind of a blur.

As the tree came down and I had the chance to bask in the natural sunlight a few things occurred to me:

1. Trees come down for a reason - the dust that came off that thing is nothing short of a biohazard. 
2. Those windows let in a LOT of light....blaring bright light....light that requires new blackout curtains. 

And then the wheels begin to turn in my brain and the light dawns and I must stop the cleaning frenzy to have a chat with all of you.  I swear this isn't metaphorical - it's true...as the clutter came out, and the dust faded away, the light shone through.

Think about that for a minute.  What is your "stuff" blocking from you?  What "light" are you keeping out?  Friendship?  Family?  Fellowship?  Love?  Joy?  Peace?  Tranquility?

How do we get rid of the pile of "stuff" that is physically blocking us from the light of Christ?  How do we let the physical go and embrace all that He has to offer us?  Are you willing to take the risk?  Have you kept the light out for so long that you have difficulty adjusting to it? 

See, the light was there all along - the tree sitting in the bay window was the only thing blocking it from entering into the room.  The light is blinding because we are not used to it - we have grown accustomed to the darker, more secretive cave-like feeling instead of the joy that can come from letting it in.

And so we come to a close - and my first challenge of 2016 to you:  Let the light in.  Shed the "stuff" between you and God and open your door wide open to all the blessings he has in store for you in 2016 and beyond.