A Meditation for the Service for the Longest Night
Thursday, December 19, 2024
One of my favorite holiday traditions is receiving Christmas cards in the mail from friends and family.
I look forward to it every year, and I save every card we receive so that I can hold on to those memories.
It means a lot to me that someone would take the time to send a card and maybe even a brief message, letting us know how they’re doing and updating us with any major life changes that have happened recently.
Some of the cards we receive each year come from people we haven’t seen or even talked to in a very long time.
What’s nice about receiving a Christmas card is knowing that, even if we haven’t spoken much or seen each other in a while, we’re still a part of each other’s lives.
Last week, I received a card in the mail from two people who’ve meant a great deal to me and my family over the years—Father Wells, a retired Episcopal priest, and his wife, Leigh.
They live in Auburn, and unfortunately, we don’t get to see them very much.
But, we love them both dearly, and they’ll always hold a special place in our hearts.
When I opened the card they sent last week, I also found a letter they had written, and in their letter, they included some updates about their family, mostly about children and grandchildren and what they’ve been up to lately.
Names and ages, interests, hobbies, job changes…things like that.
And, on the other side of the letter, there was a poem, written by Leigh.
I read it to myself, and as soon as I had finished reading it, I knew that I had to share it with you tonight because I think it speaks so beautifully to the tone and purpose of this evening and why we set aside time during this week before Christmas to offer prayers—for ourselves and for others—who find this time of the year to be especially difficult and who may be looking for a little bit of light—or a glimmer of hope—in the midst of the darkness.
So, I sent a message to Leigh and asked her if it would be okay if I shared her poem with you tonight, and she said she would be honored.
I want to share it with you now.
And, I invite you to listen carefully to the words.
As you do, I pray they’ll give you a sense of peace in this season of the year that can often feel anything but peaceful.
As you listen to the words, maybe you’ll begin to ponder in your heart where God is leading you to go and how God is working to bring healing and wholeness to your life.
This poem is entitled, “Under the Christmas Star,” by Leigh Warren.
In the glow of festive lights, so warm and bright.
Amidst the quiet whispers of a winter’s night,
We find time for renewal, a gentle restart,
To mend our spirits and heal the heart.
For self-care is a gift we often neglect,
A promise to us, a bond to protect.
In the stillness of December, with snowflakes in the air,
We learn to embrace and tenderly care.
Divorce, a painful word, a story untold,
Of hearts once entwined, now separate and cold.
Yet in this season, there’s a glimmer of grace,
A chance to rebuild, to find a new place.
Teenagers growing, in the cusp of dreams,
Navigating life, with all its extremes.
Christmas brings hope, and lessons anew,
Guiding their steps as they learn and pursue.
Under the Christmas star, we gather and find,
A tapestry of lives, uniquely entwined.
In renewal, in self-care, in journeys apart,
We celebrate love, the soul of the heart.
When I read Leigh’s poem for the first time, what immediately caught my attention was one of the last lines she wrote:
“A tapestry of lives, uniquely entwined.”
It reminded me of the fact that, at any given moment, we’re all dealing with different struggles and different circumstances in our lives.
For many of us, Christmas is a time of great joy and celebration, and for others, this time of the year stirs up painful memories and reminders of things lost.
“A tapestry of lives, uniquely entwined.”
Some of us are busy decorating our homes for the holidays, planning parties, wrapping presents, and eagerly awaiting Christmas Day.
While others of us are just trying to survive the holidays and do our best to make it to the new year.
Whether we like it or not, Christmas comes around each year and meets us where we are.
Maybe we’ve had the best year we’ve had in a long time. Or, maybe we’re suffering due to the loss of a close friend or family member.
Maybe we’re celebrating a promotion or successful year at work. Or, maybe we’ve recently lost our job and we’re uncertain about what the future may hold.
Maybe we’re closer than ever with our spouse or significant other. Or, maybe we’re grieving over a failed marriage or fractured relationship that’s beyond repair.
Maybe we have exciting plans to celebrate the holidays with friends and family. Or, maybe we’re alone and the thought of celebrating Christmas this year makes us feel even lonelier.
No matter where you find yourself this Christmas, dear friends, know that you aren’t alone.
Christmas will find you where you are, whether that’s in a good place or in a place where you’d rather not be.
But, no matter where you are, be comforted in knowing that you are loved and that, through Jesus, you’re never alone.
That’s the promise of Christmas.
God has come to dwell with us so that we never have to be alone again. The light has overcome the darkness, and even now, God is working to breathe into us new life.
Amen.
The Rev. Eric Mancil 