Jimbo's Jots

Last year, I posted thoughts related to Christmas music you may have not heard before. I thankful to those of you who followed through and listened to the music I recommended.

This year, my focus is a bit different. It seems I am always introduced to a new Christmas song or album. This year I have been introduced to several newer Christmas songs. These songs have been brought to me and our church for the month of December. We’re doing a Caroling through December. Each of the 31 days has a focused Christmas carol or hymn. The church members are encouraged follow the daily discussion and also listen to the songs.

Light of the World by Lauren Daigle (© 2014 CentricSongs; See You At The Pub; Oceans Away Music; So Essential Tunes; Annie and Clyde Music) is a song that has been released within the past few years. The concept of God being light is not a new concept. One of the avenues God used to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt by a pillar of light. Even the Psalmist calls God “the”my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1). Then, as Jesus enters the world by His birth, John the Apostle states, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

In this song by Lauren Daigle, she invites us to join in the anticipation of the coming Messiah. She explores the areas of “darkness”. She uses language similar to what many of us long for . . . “waiting for a miracle”, “calling from a sea of hurt”.

Much like the Psalms of old, she wrestles with God presence and provisions, then declares with great confidence. She transitions from the call of longing to an anthem of arrival. Per Ms. Daigle, “I was sitting there in Louisiana and Paul and Paul were in Nashville. As the writing process progressed, I was thinking about the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments in the Bible, when God was silent for 400 years. There was stillness in the world, people were searching.

I wonder how that longing was for people living then. To be honest, it kind of reminds me of today and the longing in people. As I think about those many years of silence, I think of the cry of a baby. We put these stories in a parallel position in the lyrics, connecting to our music and hoping for an ultimate connection with people, through God.”

“He is the song for the suffering
He is Messiah, the Prince of Peace
Has come, He has come
Emmanuel”

It is like John shouting the Light has come to take away the darkness!! It’s a new (to me) anthem to bask in the Light of the World. By the way, statistics show that our minds and bodies are happier and function better when exposed to natural light (aka the sun). As we enter this season in which part of the season is the longest day of limited daylight, let us soak up all of the rays of the Light of the World.

Be blessed in the Light! Be a blessing to others because of the Light!

PS – Just in case, you would like to take a listen . . . http://Light of the World – Lauren Daigle