CiCi's Space

Welcome December! This is the season ‘to be jolly…fa la la la la..la la la la’ right? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone felt happy and extended greetings to strangers as they passed each other? Joy would fill the air…I love the thought:) The truth is that the holidays bring to mind many memories, great for some and not so good for others. As much as I’ve always enjoyed this time of year, I woke up on Thanksgiving morning feeling somewhat sad. Of course I was thankful but something felt like it was missing. During the worship service a bit later when I heard a message about the duality of Thanksgiving & Thanks grieving, I thought “thats it!” We can be thankful and grieving at the same time. Whatever it is that we’ve lost, whether it’s the loss of a loved one or living with an illness. We don’t need to pretend.

Have you ever noticed how those great saints that we read about today also faced a duality with their calling and their daily experience? I often think of this as a “cross and a crown on the same coin” so to speak. You can’t have one without the other. While called to Calcutta, Mother Teresa experienced decades of “spiritual anguish” according to her personal letters that were published after she passed away. Watchman Nee had such profound spiritual insight, and yet spent 20 years in prison and labor camps. Elisabeth Elliott, a missionary who returned to Ecuador to serve the Auca people, after her husband was speared to death~her books are classics. Duality. This seems to be the way of life. What Ive found to be most helpful, especially during this season, is to accept reality as it is, and to be grateful for all that is well~my family is healthy, we are all together, our Christmas tree is up (but not yet decorated). I plugged it in briefly just to see the lights. Most importantly, I was reminded of Who this season is all about~Jesus, the light of this world (John 8:12). He is the source of spiritual light and life. Dear soul, no matter the ‘duality of daily living’, may I encourage you to follow Jesus? As you stay in step with Him, He will keep you in the light!