One of my favorite memories from growing up in the western part of Ohio was visiting Ludlow Falls every Christmas season. Ludlow Falls is a small village that sits on the edge of a waterfall. Each year in late summer/early fall, the Volunteer Fire Department would put up thousands of strands of Christmas lights along the section of river below the waterfall. They would drape lights above the waterfall and also behind the curtain of water – illuminating the waterfall.
In December, they would open their Christmas Lights Display as a fundraiser for their small fire department. It was beautiful to see all the lights reflected in the water. However, I can remember a few special years the temperatures would drop so low that the river and the waterfall would freeze over. The lights under the frozen water created a magical effect. The waterfall was transformed into an illuminated, colorful tower of ice.
Thousands of people would come to see it. I remember that it seemed like the longest walk possible from where the car was parked to the path along the river. The night would be bitter cold (cold enough to freeze the waterfall!) and every step seemed almost painful to a little girl’s way of thinking. I always wanted to just run back to the warm car, yet I knew that the walk would be worth it. I would lower my head against the biting wind and keep going.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to me, I finally would get to the river and everything changed. Seeing the beautiful display made me forget how cold I was. The lights in the cold dark of night were transformative. The walk back to the car never seemed as long as the walk to get to the river!
We do not know the actual date of Jesus’ birth, but December 25 was selected because there was already a holiday tradition marking the shortest day of the year. After that, the nights grow a little shorter and the days grew longer, increasing time with the sun. It was a theological statement to claim Christmas in late December. The Light of the World is breaking through the darkness.
There are times in our lives when the path seems long and cold. Yet, Christmas is a reminder that the Sonlight has come to break through the night. Remember that the beauty of Christmas transforms our lives. Christ came to set us free from the cold and bring us into the warmth of His love. I hope you experience the joy of Light this Christmas season. Once you welcome Jesus into your life, His love will change your perspective. The walk after seeing the beauty of His Light, never seems quite as cold.
Rev. Wendy Lambert, Senior Executive Pastor
