Far from climbing up, you’ve been mired in the muck and grime of temporal desires with no progress toward true enlightenment and hope. The systems of strength and security that you’ve trusted in seem like a cardboard fort in the brilliance of the true light. Your world changes in the light, for even as it tears down the old world of darkness, it declares that you are unable to climb the mountain, you are unable to achieve assurance of anything above the shadow of death.

Since my earliest memories, I have loved going camping. Whether it is backpacking in the mountains or car camping along the beach, there is something truly refreshing about being outdoors. Removed from the hustle and bustle of the everyday grind, you begin to appreciate the little things, to stand in awe of the spectacle of creation, and to fall in love with a life removed from screens and distractions. But as anyone will tell you, whether they’ve only spent a few days out camping or you take every chance you get to get out and disconnect, one of the highlights of the experience is sitting around a campfire at night. A campfire in the wild is an experience everyone should have at least once in their life; there’s just something magical about it.

The campfire is a world-creating event. The fire creates a boundary between the dark and the light; it establishes a border. Inside that border are the faces of those you are with, trusted friends and people you love; outside are the unknown and frightening things of the dark. Outside, there were the strange noises of unseen creatures moving about; inside, there were the laughter and stories of your people. I remember taking our dog Ruby camping with the family, and I noticed that she would always sit with her back to the fire. As a consummate guard dog, she would stare off into the darkness, concerned about every noise from the forest. Inside the light were her people, her family, but she was constantly watching for whatever was coming from the dark. She protected the border no matter what. We tend not think about the boundaries of our life; they are the commonplace walls and doors of our homes, but in the backcountry, it is the light of the fire that makes the separation. The light gives order and promises peace amid the dark uncertainty all around.

Matthew describes the arrival of our Lord as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” The dawning light of Christ establishes a new world, a new way of living, a new understanding of who you are, a new promise about your future, and hope. The light of Christ changes everything, creating a boundary within a world consumed by darkness. Inside, we find familiar faces, people we love and cherish. There we find the stories of our life together, there we find hope and promise.

Read More