Christmas Light Testimony

Several days ago, I stood in the office of my physician after my annual checkup while the receptionist was scheduling my next appointment. She noted my address and told me that she lived not far from me. In fact we determined that our back yard is visible from her back door. While trying to figure out which house the other lived in, she asked, “Are you near the people who still have their Christmas lights on each night?” I could almost hear Linda groan inwardly as she said, “That house is ours.”

You see, Linda and I have this discussion every year. After all the effort of putting the lights up, it seems a waste to turn them off right after the holidays, especially when they will be up there until it is warm enough to get them down comfortably. She’s a proponent of turning them off after the New Year is established. I, on the other hand, believe that Valentine’s day might be an appropriate end to them.

Yesterday, while walking my cat in the neighborhood I was greeted by a neighbor who commented that he enjoyed seeing our Christmas lights still lit. I told him it was in observance of the fact that the real meaning of Christmas has never lost its shine for me. Although I acknowledge that we are probably the only ones in Dubuque IA who still have them lit on January 21, I sort of like the idea of being “the light” in the darkness. And now I’m afraid that if I turn them off, my neighbor will conclude that the real meaning of Christmas has finally lost its shine.

Well, Christmas lights are one thing and they are relatively unimportant. What is of greater importance is the light of our testimony before the world.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5.14-16

It is a good reminder that just as my two neighbors noticed my Christmas lights, so too my neighbors and acquaintances, and yours, will notice the light of our testimony as they observe the manner in which we live and conduct ourselves. They will observe when it shines brightly as well as when it is dimmed. Do you have your lights on?