The following is a poem I read this past week. It can be found in "A Timbered Choir" by Wendell Berry (New York: Counterpoint, 1998)

Our Christmas tree is
not electrified, is not
covered with little lights
calling attention to themselves
(we have had enough
of little lights calling attention
to themselves). Our tree
is a cedar cut here, one
of the fragrances of our place,
hung with painted cones
and paper stars folded
long ago to praise our tree,
Christ come into the world.

In the late Middle Ages, I believe there was a Christmas hymn entited something like "Christ Our Christmas Tree." Perhaps the last two lines make an oblique reference to that ancient hymn.

As I reflected on this poem and the Advent/Christmas Season, I had several thoughts. One of them I want to record.

Lights have certainly become a part of Christmas. They are everywhere -- or so it seems. The glitter in department stores and malls. The shine across many streets. And of course, they beautify thousands and thousands of Christmas trees.

When we are concentrating on the meaning of Christmas, they should remind us of that to which they are but pale reflections; Christ our Light and the Light of the world has come. Of course, sometimes the sparkle and gleam of the Christmas lights can blind us to the true Light. While true, that is not the point I want to make.

My reflections led me to recall anew that Christ, who is the true Light of Christmas, is unknown in many parts of our world. It is hard to imagine in this day and age of mass communication that multitudes still live in darkness without the light of the Gospel. However it is true that they have had no realistic opportunity to hear and respond to the Good News of the birth of the Saviour.

That is one of the reasons Pat and I are in Thailand with International Ministries of American Baptist Churches. We believe that the Good News is best carried into Thai villages and neighborhoods by Thai's who have seen the Light. So, we teach at the McGilvary Faculty of Theology. In all of our teaching, we hope to fan the desire in our students for bringing the light and love of Jesus Christ to their people.

May the beauty of the Light of Christ shine brightly throughout Thailand and the world.

Merry Christmas,

LaMon and Pat Brown