As Abby and I go out in the cold early morning of these December days, I am drawn to the beauty of the clear winter sky. This morning the stars and the new moon were so bright and the contrast so sharp you’d think you could pluck them from the skies. No other time during the year are the celestial bodies so bright and radiant.
   It must have been on one of these days that Dan Schutte wrote that beautiful Advent song we sing: Beyond the Moon and Stars. In this hymn he goes on to compare the depth of night to the depth of our longing for God. We hunger to see His Light. In a time of year when our days are shortest and the nights are long, our need for light is highlighted ever more.
   Last night the Jewish people began their celebration of the Feast of Lights when they light the Minora for eight succeeding days to commemorate the rebuilding of the Temple.
   Each weekend we add an additional candle to our Advent Wreath, symbolically leading the way to Christmas and Christ’s coming into our lives.
   Lighted candles appear in the windows of most homes as Christmas decorations begin to appear. These window candles likewise have the symbolic meaning of welcome. We put on lights to illuminate our entryways for arriving guest. We put candles in our windows to welcome Jesus when he comes to our home as well.
   Isaiah refers to the people of the Old Testament as a “People who walk in darkness” until they see the light of the Savior. May we be watchful and vigilant when the savior comes our way.