Hope in Darkness

A PRAYER BY MAX LUCADO 12-15-2012

"Dear Jesus,

It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.

These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.

The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push awa

y from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.

Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.

This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.

Hopefully,

Your Children"

There have been many things posted on Facebook in the last 24 hours.  There are parents who are grieving with the families in Connecticut, there is a huge debate regarding gun control, for and against;  there are people asking how evil things are allowed to happen... so much being said.  This prayer by author Max Lucado has been the best thing I have read, a check back into reality from this nightmare our country is in.  In the midst of darkness our God IS here.  Jesus began his human journey born into a time when evil was the norm.  When King Herod, in an attempt to murder the Messiah ordered all baby boys murdered.  Hundreds, maybe thousands of babies murdered in their Mothers arms because of evil.  Darkness is here, but so is hope.

I often realize that my vision of the manger scene includes Frank Sinatra's version of "Silent Night".  Not exactly how it happened.  Darkness and fear were all around that night.  Shepherds were heralded by angels and they were "so afraid".  Joseph and Mary were alone, scared... Mary was 13... my Abbeys age.  This was not a covered-in-glitter-with-Christmas-music-playing moment.  It was however, filled with hope and joy.  When the Shepherds found the baby, when the Wisemen worshiped, as Mary and Joseph looked into the scrunched up face of their new baby boy, knowing this was also their Savior.  Jesus was there in the midst of darkness.  

So when my girls ask me like they did yesterday... how does God let this happen?  How do I answer them?  Until heaven, God's perfect love lives in us while we live in a world filled with evil.  We are in a battle... it would seem that the enemy gained ground yesterday.  That is not the end of the story.  The victory will be won, yesterday will be set right.  In Satan's attempt at spreading evil he succeeded in adding 20 little souls to the hosts of heaven.  The pain and evil that the families are left to deal with is excruciating.  Darkness is here... but so is hope... this will be set right one day... the battle is not over. Darkness is here, but so is the King of Kings, the hope that is all I can cling to.