Washington's Siege and Christmas Past

  One week ago on a Wednesday evening like many of you I sat glued to the television. Open-mouthed and sick to my stomach I watched part of those terrible six hours when citizens of this country stormed the Capitol. I could not believe my eyes. Smashing windows, nailing up a scaffold and a hanging rope. Many screamed: "Kill Pence! Kill Pence." Someone paraded through those sacred halls carrying a Confederate flag. Some chased down police, beating some with sticks. Several pipe bombs were found. More than one sign proclaimed: "Jesus is my Lord. Trump is my President." A policeman was murdered. Four others died as well. There were crosses in abundance.  Many were wounded. One man jerked a crutch from one man and held it up with glee.The flag came down and up went up saying Trump won. Underneath they raised the American flag. 

Looking out my window that night across the street at my neighbor's house Christmas lights still blinked. Their decorations were still up. It was a surreal moment for me. The TV showing anger and hate and destruction and across my street Christmas was still in the windows.

This was not exactly Silent night or Holy night. 

What does the light which John promised would overpower the darkness square with what I saw on television that night? I wondered if the violence I saw in Washington and the twinkling lights across the street had the old Christmas promise wrong? Will the darkness suffocate the light? Would last week's vengeance and lies piled on top of lies smudge out my Christmas memories. Faith says remember that child in the manger promising "peace and goodwill to all." Doubt says: "Are you kidding power and looting rule this country. Get real. That sea of hatred seemed pretty real." 

And then I remembered those three kings that followed a strange star. And I remembered that

King Herod would snuff out those blinking lights and murder whoever would get in his way. As the Kings moved toward Bethlehem they must have picked up the idea that Herod really did not want to give obeisance to this promised king. Finally the three Kings arrived and discovered that shining light was over a back-street cow stall with with mind-numbing cold and cow dung everywhere. This was no match for the power of Rome and Herod. But those Kings slowly placed their gifts at the foot of the manger and the mewing child. Maybe they really were wise. The story says they "went home another way..." to avoid Herod the king. Much later, under cover of darkness, Joseph, the Father took his wife Mary and their tiny baby and fled to Egypt. We forget the real fear of Joseph and his family. Only later did they feel like it was safe and returned home. 

The light has had a hard time in every age and every Christmas. Wars, mayhem, plagues and starvation everywhere, And yet even with every cruelty the world would show--the flickering candle--a light--never went out. So I must remember the Christmas story yet again when the lion and the lamb will lie down together. (Isaiah 11. 6-9.) Get out your Bible and read this whole promise.

The Christmas lights and decorations up and down our streets are no more.  It may be dark indeed outside but we hang on to Epiphany where the precious light still burns--maybe dimly--but it still burns. And so I stumble into this strange new year believing and not-believing this news which hardly sounds good right now.  We may not be able to whistle while we work. There will be some days when we do not really know yet that "the word became flesh and dwelt among us”. But that word endures. Even in a time of plague especially in a time of plague.

                                                              photo by Martin Sisak / flikr

+ First photo by Blink O'fanaya / flikr

+ Second photo by Alvin Truly / flikr

—Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com