Hope

The year I graduated from college, I spent Christmas alone.  My parents were living in Colorado, my brother flew out to be with them, and my boyfriend flew to Oregon to visit his family (thanks, hon!).  My roommates had flown home to see their families.  My aunt and grandma lived close-ish, and I spent an hour or so there on Christmas Eve, but I was sick, and nobody who’s 80 needs to be around sick people. 

Even at the time, though, I was thankful that circumstances were what kept me from being with family…  I did have a loving family, and many people who spent Christmas alone don’t.  It sounds weird, but in a certain sense, I was glad for the experience. 

Am I still willing to walk in someone else’s shoes, even in this joyous season?  For me, the lights and carols were a sweet irony that year.  For folks who are alone or in painful circumstances every year, well…they are the ones who need hope.

Jesus came as a light in a dark world.  I want to be that light to the hopeless around me…