31 December, Tuesday — Coming out of the dark

7^th day within the octave of Christmas

1 Jn 2:18-21
Jn 1:1-18

The Word was the true light that enlightens all men.

In the past couple of months, I’ve been busy with home fixes. Neither my husband nor I are good handymen, and after 11 years in this apartment, things have slowly started falling apart. It began with various appliances breaking down one by one — the television, the microwave, the vacuum cleaner, the ceiling fan, the washing machine, the dryer. It almost felt as though the household appliances had conspired to take turns breaking down.

Then came the more tedious issues. We had to replace the silicone sealant in the bathroom and deal with a leaky air conditioner that caused water damage and mould to my bedroom wall. That meant hiring a professional to patch up and repaint the wall.

But of all the repairs, the most pressing and frustrating was replacing the lights in our home. Eleven years ago, installing ‘stylish’ LED lights seemed like a great idea. However, in recent years, these fixtures turned into a nightmare because they weren’t the kind of lights we could easily replace ourselves. It was impractical and costly to call an electrician each time a bulb went out, so we decided to wait until more lights failed before taking action.

That time finally came — just before Advent — when we were left with only one working light in the kitchen, one in the bathroom, and half the lights in the hallway. Our apartment doesn’t have windows in these areas, so we rely entirely on artificial lighting. At the risk of losing the little light we had and being plunged into darkness, I began the gruelling process of searching for a good electrician and replacement lights.

As it turned out, finding a solution was more challenging than expected. In my case, the answer to the age-old question, “How many people does it take to change a light bulb?” was five. It took consultations with five different companies before I finally found one that could provide suitable replacements. Even so, the earliest installation date they could offer was February next year. All I could do was pray that the remaining lights would hold out until then.

Then, my Christmas miracle happened. On December 20, an installation slot became available unexpectedly. Within hours, we had 12 brand-new lights illuminating our home. What a difference they made! The house has never been this bright.

When we were living in partial darkness, we hadn’t fully realised how dim things had truly become. We simply accepted the situation and adjusted to the darkness, reasoning that as long as there was some light and we could see, there was no urgency to act. It was only when more lights went out, and the threat of total darkness loomed, that I felt the weight of the situation.

Darkness doesn’t always descend suddenly (unless there’s a blackout); instead, it creeps in gradually, and we adapt to it without noticing. Our senses grow accustomed and dull, and we fail to recognise how much brighter and clearer life could be. With our new lights installed, I’ve discovered dirt and grime in corners of the house that were invisible before. The brightness revealed areas I had neglected.

Similarly, in our spiritual lives, darkness often creeps in unnoticed. We grow accustomed to small compromises or neglect in our faith, until one day we find ourselves far from the light of Christ. My lighting problem during Advent has been a timely reminder for me to reflect on my spiritual life with Christ, the True Light. Have I allowed spiritual darkness to creep in, settling for less instead of seeking the fullness of His light?

I know it’s no coincidence that our home was illuminated just before Christmas. These new lights remind me of the spiritual truth that Christ, the True Light, comes at Christmas to dispel all darkness. With Him, we never need to fear the darkness because His light shines eternally and guides us always.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Esther Leet)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to remain steadfast in our faith. Help us to always remember that you are the only light we need in our lives. With you, we never need to fear the darkness or stumble, for your light will always shine brightly to guide our way. Amen.

Thanksgiving: Thank you, Lord, for being the True Light that illuminates our lives and for dispelling the darkness around us. May we always walk in your light. Amen.