Photography, Faith, and the Art of Seeing 6
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            The church I grew up in has always been my idea of a sacred place.  As a little girl I loved sitting in the sanctuary and looking at the sunlight streaming in through the stained glass windows which cast a rainbow of colors on the floors and walls.  The wooden pews must have been polished frequently because they always had a beautiful sheen to them.  And then there was the pipe organ!  If played full-force the thundering bass notes could shake the rafters.  We were blessed with several talented organists who graced us with the music of Bach and Handel on a regular basis.  My son’s church is nothing like this.  It is more like a theater with its light show and powerhouse sound system.  The worship band is just as talented as the organists I grew up with, but I confess that when the lights go down, and the smoke machine puts a mist about the singers, I feel more as if I’m at a concert than in a worship service.  But a glance around the room tells me I’m the minority.  I might not think of it as sacred space, but some do.

            Photography has brought me to some unexpectedly sacred places as well.  One Easter Sunday morning I woke much earlier than I usually do.  The sun was just beginning to peek through the trees in my woodsy backyard and I noticed there was a mist on the ground.  It was calling for me to grab my camera and take some pictures. I stopped and took a moment to appreciate the beauty.  Suddenly a thought came to mind.  Was this the kind of morning that greeted Mary Magdalene and the other women as they walked to the tomb?  I don’t know how it did, but my backyard became a sacred space.

            Having encountered God in different places that have made me aware of His presence in my life I do not find it unusual that the likes of Jacob (Gen. 28:20), Moses (Ex. 3:1-6), a centurion at the foot of the cross (Mt. 27:45-54) and a woman named Mary Magdalene (Jn. 20:11-18) encountered God in significant locations.  What does surprise me is that the same Lord Jacob saw at the top of His staircase no longer feels obligated to “reside” in a building He now resides in me.   I don’t know how I became sacred space, but the Bible says that I did the moment I accepted Christ as my Savior (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

            Of course when I think of all those places where I have felt His presence or the stories in the Bible where men and women have seen the Lord face to face, I usually think of something beyond the confines of the human body.  Paul’s words in 2 Cor. 4:7 become more and more powerful to me as my “earthen vessel” gets closer and closer to going back to the earth.  However the Lord is never limited by my limitations and through the words of Paul He has made it known that this jar of clay still has the potential to exhibit His power which is all the more reason to make sure I take the best care of it as I can.  I don’t know why He decided to do this, but the Lord has made me a sacred space.
 
           The evening had been particularly draining.  I left the dorm room of two friends who were at odds with each other and went to pray in the sanctuary of the church.  I don’t know how much time passed before, spent and saddened I lifted up my head.  My eyes were immediately drawn to the front of the sanctuary where light which passed through a side window was falling on the cross on the altar as if I was in a theater and someone from the tech crew was aiming a spotlight on it.  No matter what happened from this point on, the Lord reassured me that I had acted as His child and suddenly the whole room seemed to change.  I knew He was there- in the sanctuary and in me.  What had started as a place of refuge had become a sacred space.  I don’t know how Jesus did it, but He did.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 5

This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            One of the great aspects of photography is that it teaches you to notice things that most people consistently pass by.  Some of my fellow photographers have commented on my pictures citing that I have a knack for noticing something that most would naturally not be drawn to seeing.  A rusty latch, the pattern of a metal bench against a stone wall, a stick emerging from the snow, or a leaf stuck on top of the recycling bin- they all have the potential of becoming a piece of art when I point my camera at them.  “I just love the way you see things,” my friend Bob remarked after he watched me take a photo of a rusty chain on a fire hydrant.  I don’t know exactly how I “see” these oddities, but I do know that photography has honed this skill of mine.
            Seeing is a critical factor in the story of the sacrifice of Isaac.  You know the story.  After years of waiting and a few missteps along the way, Abraham and Sarah were finally blessed with a son.  You can imagine their shock, disappointment and fear when God says to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, and offer him to me as a sacrifice.” (Gen. 22:2).  What kind of God goes to all the trouble of making the impossible (a child born to a couple long after childbearing years) possible and then commands that you “return” him”?  However, Scripture tells us that this incredulous request was a “test” to see the degree of Abraham’s faithfulness (Gen. 22:1).  It is one thing to pack up your household and move to unknown territory which is what Abraham did when he left Ur of the Chaldeans.  Truth be told, if that move hadn’t worked out, Abraham could have always moved back.  But from the human viewpoint, there probably was not another miraculous conception in the future for Sarah. 
            Abraham passes the test.  He never argues with God or bargains for a different way to pull the sacrifice off.  “Really Lord?   Sacrifice Issac?  Wouldn’t one of the flock be just as acceptable?  I mean, what will the neighbors think of us killing off the heir we told them that You’d promised to us?  They certainly won’t believe in You after this!”  No, instead we see Abraham resolutely and faithfully following God’s request as if he understands exactly what God is up to.  And at the moment he raises the blade to plunge into Isaac we collectively hold our breath and look the other way.  It is at this precise moment the Lord steps in and stops the action.  The Lord tells Abraham that He has seen Abraham’s faith in his willingness to sacrifice his “only son” (Gen. 22:12).  And we are informed that because of this Abraham called the place Yahweh (Yah-way) Yireh (year-ray) which translators have written as “The Lord will provide” (Gen. 22:14).  But the word yireh is based on the verb ra-ah which means “to see”.  This place is not called “The Lord will Provide” (although He did and that translation has persisted).  It actually means “The Lord will See”.  Therefore the focus in not on what God will do or even what He did.  It is about what God saw.
            God told Abraham, “Take your son and offer him to me”.   What is He asking of me?  God saw the reverence in Abraham’s faith in that he would give to God the thing that he treasured most.  I believe He asks the same of me.   “Take the vacation money you were saving and give it to this ministry.”  “Take that four day weekend and give the time to help out a widow who can’t clean her yard.”  “Take one Sunday and give it to the nursery so a young mom can hear the sermon undistracted.”  “Take…and give because I have asked you to and I want to SEE just how much you believe that I AM the Lord of your life.”  If we truly believe that God is Who He says He is, how does the way we live show that?  When God looks at you and me, what does He SEE?  Does He see our faith in action as He did with Abraham?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 4
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            My youth group had traveled most of the day; 12 hours to be exact.  When we reached our destination in the heart of West Virginia and I stepped out of the car my wobbly legs caused me to put my arm on the car for balance and as I did I glanced upward.  I was met with a night sky I had never seen before except at the planetarium.  Not only was the Milky Way in all its glory stretched from one side of the horizon to the other, it seemed as if God had flung a million stars across the expanse as well.  The sight was breath-taking.  One of my favorite Bible verses immediately came to mind, “When I look at the heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast made; what is man that Thou art mindful of him and the son of man that Thou dost care for him?” (Ps. 8:3-4). 
            When Abraham first encountered the God who created that endless expanse in the heavens the conversation was a little unusual considering the polytheistic background Abraham came from.  But we have a sense that Abraham did not ascribe to the religious opinions of his culture in that he recognizes Who he is talking to.  God tells Abraham that he will have descendants, which at 75 must have seemed incredulous (Gen. 12:1-3).  As Abraham’s story continues and the years pass by with no heir in sight it becomes a huge question in Abraham’s mind, “Just how are you going to accomplish this Lord?”  God’s answer is to escort Abraham outside of his tent.  “Look at the heavens and count the stars- if you can!” God challenges him (Gen. 15:1-21).  I love to imagine that scene, often thinking that what Abraham saw was akin to the amazing sky I saw that night long ago in West Virginia.  But that is the essence of faith- seeing something beyond what you see.
            Once a small group of my photographic friends and I met up at a community park on a chilly day in early Spring.  It was an odd time of year to be thinking about taking pictures outdoors.  The Northeast is notoriously dreary at that time of year.  It was my task to show them that there are pictures ANYWHERE if you have the eyes to see them.  We had to look beyond the obvious and see the photographic possibilities before us.  Abraham had to look into the night sky and see that with God the possibilities were as limitless as the number of stars in the sky.  If God could create a million stars, why wouldn’t he be able to create an heir for a barren couple?
            I often look at my life and see limitations.  Ideas and dreams float around in my head but when I think of accomplishing them I see myself as limited as Abraham and Sarah.  The mistake I make is that I transfer my limitations on to God.  But every now and then He escorts me “outside my tent”, makes me look up into the sky and says, “I am the God of a million stars.  Don’t you think I can orchestrate countless possibilities for your life too?” 
            So if I’m tempted to think of my circumstances or human frailty as a limitation or restriction God cannot overcome, it is wise to take another look at the God who created all those stars.  He is the God who defeated an army with pots and torches (Jud. 7:15-23), enabled a nation to cross a raging river on dry land (Jos. 3:1-17), protected 3 young men from a fiery furnace (Dan. 3:1-30) and gave a barren couple a son (Gen. 21:1-8) and so much more.   So why do I think He will not help me to fulfill that which He designed for me to do (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 1:6)?  The God of a million stars will always be the God of endless possibilities.  All I have to do is look up into the sky and believe.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            I knew the glass ball was not hovering over the floor.  I knew I had placed it on the honey-colored floor in front of the off-white wall with my own hands and then taken its picture.  But staring at the picture now showing on my computer screen seemed to be proving otherwise.  The glass ball most assuredly appeared to be floating just above the wooden surface as if some amazing magician was levitating it just outside the picture frame.  It was a fascinating optical illusion.  Optical illusions are brain teasers.  But illusions are a form of trickery.  And it’s best to recognize them as such.  Whatever shape or form they take, optical illusions are just that- illusions.  They are not what they appear to be.
            The grandest of all optical illusions occurred in the Garden of Eden.  We do not know how long Adam and Eve lived in that wonderful place before the Serpent enticed them to sin.  But we do know that there were living conditions set by God that, if followed, would produce a long and happy life- perhaps even an endless one (Gen. 2:15-17).  The Serpent intended to destroy that and he knew his mark well.  Like a crafty car salesman, he’d polished the lemon and was waiting for the first customer who knew nothing about cars so that with a graceful swoop of the hand across the cherry red hood he could reel in the unsuspecting buyer.  One look and Eve was hooked.   Who cares about God’s rules?  It looks GOOD!
            Photography is an art built on illusion.  From the moment one looks through the viewfinder to the press of the shutter, decisions to include or exclude information from a picture are made.  A flower can appear to be blooming in a beautiful garden as the close-up of its petals fill the page.  But in reality it could very well be blooming on a heap of garbage.  What fills the frame is ultimately an illusion.  The Bible tells us there is a grand and dangerous optical illusion in our life and we run into it on a daily basis.  It is the temptation of sin.  Proverbs is so mindful of this illusion it repeats the warning two separate times (Pr. 14:12; 16:25).  Sin looks harmless at first glance, even good at times, but in the end, its reality is death. 
            Neither you nor I have a corner market on the eye’s ability to lead us into sinful choices.  Scripture is replete with examples. Perhaps the greatest example of how sin can begin with a casual glance comes from the story of David and Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:1-12:23).  The Bible makes note that David is not where he should be (2 Sam. 11:1-2) which puts him in a place where he sees something he normally wouldn’t have seen.  One glance led to a longer one which lead to an inquiry and finally to full blown sin (2 Sam. 11:1-27).  The result is the same as that of the first sin back in the garden.  Adam and Eve experienced death just as God said they would once they ate from the tree and the child conceived through David’s illicit affair died too (2 Sam. 12:23).  The fruit may have looked like a floating glass ball.  Bathsheba may have looked like a floating glass ball.  But it was only an illusion.
                        Temptation in itself is not sin, but yielding to it is (1 Cor. 10:13), especially when help is not far off (Is. 55:6; Lk. 11:4).  The greatest scene of temptation in the New Testament (and perhaps all of Scripture) is the encounter between Satan and Jesus (Mt. 4:1-11; Mk. 1:12-13; Lk. 4:1-13).  No matter what Satan offers, fame, power, or pleasure, Jesus steadfastly refuses them.  The illusions do not work on Him.  Instead His lens is fixed solely on God’s will and His Word and that Word reveals the Truth behind the illusions.  What Satan has to offer is the optical illusion of a floating ball.  The eyes may make it seem real but it is not.  God’s Word is the most powerful lens by which to view the optical illusion of sin.  We can’t escape those illusions.  They will always be a part of life.  But we can learn to distinguish them and avoid the consequence of our Biblical predecessors (Js. 1:14-15).  The question is, are you and I willing to take a closer look at the illusion and see it for what it truly is- an illusion.
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            My journey as a photographer began when I was 8 years old.  It was 1964 and the World’s Fair had opened in New York City.  My parents had given me a Kodak Instamatic Camera and I excitedly took pictures of our visits to the exhibits and displays.  When I hold those early pictures in my hands and take note of what captured my attention I have to smile.  I’m not sure I’d take the same shots today, but I certainly wouldn’t be cutting peoples’ foreheads off and I’d be holding the camera more steadily.  In spite of their short comings those early pictures prove that at 8 years old, with camera in hand, I was seeing the world in a new and different way. 
            Years later when photography actually became a craft I wanted to pursue and improve I was presented with another “little” camera.  At 8 I was excited to receive the Instamatic.  When the Canon Powershot A560 arrived, I confess I was not excited at all.  Since it was a gift I determined to hide my disappointment.  I had the idea of starting out my serious pursuit of photography with a much grander camera.  I had a particular goal in mind.  I wanted to capture the moon.  It had long fascinated me.  No matter what phase it appeared in, that beautiful silvery white celestial body called out to me from the sky and I wanted to grab a close-up of its craters and seas more than anything.  But the “little point and shoot” did not have the ability to do that.
            When the Lord started to stir up the “formless and void” of Genesis 1:1 prior to creation, I wonder if He was disappointed in what He had to work with in the same sense that I was disappointed with my “little camera”.  Of course not!  But for our benefit God has poetically recorded the process in the first chapter of Genesis and after each step the statement is made, “God saw that it was good.”  The act of seeing and sight is a thread that is tightly woven throughout Scripture.  Across its pages both God and humans are noted as “seeing”.  But the difference in the way they see is often quite broad. What God sees is not the same as what people see.  What man sees is limited.  What God sees is limitless.
            Truthfully it wasn’t a bad camera.  It did what it was designed to do quite nicely.  And it excelled at macro shots.  It just couldn’t take moon shots.  It took time but I eventually came to realize that by the mere fact that it was the camera I had to work with the Powershot truly developed my ability to SEE.  Instead of rushing head long into a photo, I had to stop, take time to look and think about what my camera was capable of doing and then take the shot.  Inevitably every time I did that, the picture was good.
            At first I thought the Canon Powershot A560 was limited.  In a sense and by virtue of manufacturing specifications it was.  It was designed to be a handy pocket camera suited for the average person’s photographic needs- birthday parties and vacation shots- and I was looking for a way to take pictures of the moon.  But in comparison the camera illustrates spiritual sight well.  What I see is limited.  What God sees is limitless.  What I sees falls short of my expectations.  What God sees is good.  I see a camera that can’t take moon shots.  God sees macros.
            Just as it takes time to understand the potential of a camera the process of developing spiritual sight takes time too.  I don’t always enjoy the process of learning this but faith has taught me to see beyond the physical circumstances and believe that when God says it is good, it is good.
            The little girl who excitedly snapped pictures with her Kodak Instamatic camera grew to be the woman who was less than excited when she received the Canon Powershot A560 but both cameras were instrumental in developing her sight.  At times I became focused on what I perceived to be limitations and I am not alone.  Human nature perpetually relies more on SEEING in the limited physical realm rather than the spiritual one.  Spiritual sight, like all of life is a journey.  The journey of seeing which a photographer takes begins with a simple camera.  The journey to spiritual sight requires us to discard our limited eyesight and to look through God’s limitless viewfinder instead.  We sigh and wish we had a better camera; God is satisfied with the camera we have and uses it to help us to truly SEE things as He does.  We want to see moon shots.  But God has uploaded a macro and He says that it’s good.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, tasting.  If I was asked to surrender all but one of my senses, I’d be hard-pressed to choose.  Each has its own distinct contribution to my life and all seem quite necessary to enjoy life to its fullest.  However I can think of remarkable people who have made a name for themselves in spite of lacking one or more of these vital components which we use on a daily basis.  But since we are exploring the connection between faith and sight the obvious choice would be that of seeing.
            From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 sight plays an important role in matters of faith and it involves all facets of our eyes from making something known (that is revealing something so it can be seen) to the act of seeing- both in the physical and spiritual sense.  This facet of faith is driven home by the fact that the word “see” is used 1409 times in the Bible (as counted in the New American Standard Version; other versions are probably similar in count).  The number increases dramatically when you add in derivations such as “seeing, saw, seen, look, watch, and observe”. 
            Why is sight so important?  In the physical sense the answer is obvious.  How many times have you walked into something because you were not watching where you were going?  As for me, I have terrible night vision.  That’s why there are a number of little night lights placed strategically throughout my house!  Spiritual sight is even more critical because in the Biblical sense it often contains more truth then what we see (or don’t see) in the physical realm.  This point is driven home in the story of Elisha’s hapless servant who is convinced he and Elisha are about to come to a disastrous end at the hands of an army which surrounds his camp.  Fearsome warriors are all he can see.  Their weapons glisten in the sun ready to cut, slice and kill.  The servant cannot believe Elisha is viewing the situation with such calm until the prophet prays for his eyes to be opened and the truth of the situation is revealed.  The enemy army may be large, but the heavenly army God has sent to protect them is even larger (2 Kin. 6:8-17).
            The eye is a remarkable organ.  Spiritual eyes even more so.  We have a tendency to rely solely on our physical eyes as we go through life with all its ups and downs.  In the practical sense this is a necessity.  We see danger and avoid it.  We see sights which make us happy and enjoy them.  We see rain and grab an umbrella as we head out the door.  As we grow the connection between our sight and common sense develops and (hopefully) grows.  It’s all the more reason to admire those who have learned to compensate for the lack of it.  But in matters of faith it is important to develop the spiritual sight which enables us to look beyond the immediate situation and see what is going on “behind the scenes”.  Like Gehazi, Elisha’s sight-challenged servant, our eyes must be opened to see beyond what we perceive as reality to the realm of God’s activity which is often far more than what we think or expect (Eph. 3:14-20).
            Photography as become a surprising teacher for me in these matters.  But as I’ve delved more into the art and craft of it, photography has underscored a number of spiritual truths throughout the pages of Scripture.  My journey as a photographer has become a metaphor for my walk of faith; my pictures object lessons of principles the God-head has taught me along the way.  As my photographic sight has developed and matured I’ve come to see parallels in the way my spiritual sight has developed and matured.  I am about to share with you some of those lessons (and dare I say insights) with you in hopes that you too will see the Lord working in a similar way with you (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            My house is full of little things.  Some are useful; some not so useful.  Some are meaningful and some not so meaningful. Some are tied to traditions I “inherited” from my family.  There is no season where this is more apparent than the Christmas season.  Like my mother before me, it is probably my favorite time of the year.  And just like her, I enjoy the wonder of the Christmas story, the carols and all the decorations that go along with them.  Red Pillar Candles were abundant in our home at Christmas.  Encircled by garlands and greens they decorated the mantle and every table top.  Once my mother lit all the candles, put Handel’s Messiah on the stereo (the ancient days!), and along with my dad and their good friends the Gildersleeves sang all the choruses along with the record into the night.  I remember falling asleep thinking I was listening to a heavenly choir.  It is no surprise that my sisters and I love candles at Christmas too- although my “collection” has lessened through the years for practicality’s sake.  This year another special candle made by one of my sisters has center stage on the dining room table.  It too is a reminder of a Christmas memory past, but unlike most of my pillar candles it hasn’t been lit.  The memory makes it too special for me to use it up.  But it is surrounded by little (battery operated) tea lights which are often twinkling away while we eat dinner.
            Light is a central element in the Christmas story.  The shepherds are overwhelmed by the light of the heavenly angel announcing the Savior’s birth (Lk. 2:8-14), the Wisemen are guided to the Christ child by the light of the star (Mt. 2:1-12) and Simeon proclaims that the baby Jesus is a fulfillment of God’s promise that His Servant would be “a light to the nations” (Is. 42:1-7; Lk. 2:25-35).  In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for light is “or”.  In the literal sense it is light from heavenly bodies (Jer. 31:35; Ezek. 32:7) but it can also mean light itself (Gen. 1:3; Ecc. 12:2).  The pillar of fire was a light for Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 13:21).  In the Old Testament (as well as the New) light is always used as a positive symbol, such as for good fortune (Job 30:26); victory (Mic. 7:8-9); justice and righteousness (Is. 59:9); and of one who brings deliverance (Is. 49:6).  There are some prominent expressions that also involve light: the light of one’s face means someone’s favor (Ps. 44:35); to see the light means to live (Ps. 49:19); and to walk in the light means to live by the standards God has made known to us (Is. 2:5). 
            The New Testament word, “phos” (pronounced foe-ss), also carries similar meanings.  It is used for light in itself (Mt. 17:2; 2 Cor. 4:6); light emitted from a luminous body such as a lamp, a candle, a fire (Mt. 14:54; Lk. 8:16; 22:56; Acts. 16: 29;  Js. 1:17; Rev. 18:23), or the sun (Rev. 22:5); of daylight (Jn. 11:9-10) and the opposite of darkness (Mt. 10:27; Lk. 12:3; Eph. 5:13); of the dazzling light which is God’s glory surrounding His throne (1 Tim. 6:16; Rev. 21:24) and Christ’s physical appearance after the Resurrection (Acts 9:3, 5; 22:6, 9, 11; 26:13).  And like its Old Testament counterpart, phos can be used in a figurative fashion as well.  It can mean spiritual understanding (Jn. 3:19; 8:12; Acts 26:18; Rom. 13:2; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:8; 1 Jn. 2:8); how that understanding is exhibited in the way one lives (Mt. 5:14-16), and the conscience, i.e. the “inner light” (Mt. 6:23; Lk. 11:35).  But perhaps the most significant use of the word phos in the New Testament is its connection to the fulfillment of Is. 9:2 in Mt. 4:12-17.  Jesus as the Great Teacher and Savior of the World is The Light who brings life and immortality to its fullest in His Gospel (Lk. 2:32; Jn. 1:4-5, 7-9; 3:19; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46) so it is no surprise that He makes the claim “I am the Light of the World” in Jn. 8:12.  But would one expect such a significant Light to make its entrance into the world as a baby?  Probably not!
            There was a time when our boys were growing up that we spent Christmas Eve with some very dear friends.  On that night they turned off all the lights and lit everything by candle light.  The ambiance was quite beautiful!  The church I grew up in also had a wonderful tradition with candles.  As the final minutes of Christmas Eve came to their conclusion the carol “Silent Night” would be sung.  Each person had a small candle in their hands and one by one they would all be lit around the sanctuary.  Precisely at midnight the organ would burst into “Joy to the World” and we’d lift up the candles and we sang about Christ’s birth.  The light of a candle is the epitome of Christmas symbols and a perfect reflection of “those who walked in darkness” coming to “see a great light” even as a babe in a manger (Is. 9:1-7).  It is my hope and prayer that The Candle of Christmas Jesus Christ, would burn brightly in your celebration of His birth this year and that you in turn, will shine His light on those around you.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
 

My house is full of little things.  Some are useful; some not so useful.  Some are meaningful and some not so meaningful. Some are tied to traditions I “inherited” from my family.  There is no season where this is more apparent than the Christmas season.  Like my mother before me, it is probably my favorite time of the year.  And just like her, I enjoy the wonder of the Christmas story, the carols and all the decorations that go along with them.  Red Pillar Candles were abundant in our home at Christmas.  Encircled by garlands and greens they decorated the mantle and every table top.  Once my mother lit all the candles, put Handel’s Messiah on the stereo (the ancient days!), and along with my dad and their good friends the Gildersleeves sang all the choruses along with the record into the night.  I remember falling asleep thinking I was listening to a heavenly choir.  It is no surprise that my sisters and I love candles at Christmas too- although my “collection” has lessened through the years for practicality’s sake.  This year another special candle made by one of my sisters has center stage on the dining room table.  It too is a reminder of a Christmas memory past, but unlike most of my pillar candles it hasn’t been lit.  The memory makes it too special for me to use it up.  But it is surrounded by little (battery operated) tea lights which are often twinkling away while we eat dinner.
            Light is a central element in the Christmas story.  The shepherds are overwhelmed by the light of the heavenly angel announcing the Savior’s birth (Lk. 2:8-14), the Wisemen are guided to the Christ child by the light of the star (Mt. 2:1-12) and Simeon proclaims that the baby Jesus is a fulfillment of God’s promise that His Servant would be “a light to the nations” (Is. 42:1-7; Lk. 2:25-35).  In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for light is “or”.  In the literal sense it is light from heavenly bodies (Jer. 31:35; Ezek. 32:7) but it can also mean light itself (Gen. 1:3; Ecc. 12:2).  The pillar of fire was a light for Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 13:21).  In the Old Testament (as well as the New) light is always used as a positive symbol, such as for good fortune (Job 30:26); victory (Mic. 7:8-9); justice and righteousness (Is. 59:9); and of one who brings deliverance (Is. 49:6).  There are some prominent expressions that also involve light: the light of one’s face means someone’s favor (Ps. 44:35); to see the light means to live (Ps. 49:19); and to walk in the light means to live by the standards God has made known to us (Is. 2:5). 
            The New Testament word, “phos” (pronounced foe-ss), also carries similar meanings.  It is used for light in itself (Mt. 17:2; 2 Cor. 4:6); light emitted from a luminous body such as a lamp, a candle, a fire (Mt. 14:54; Lk. 8:16; 22:56; Acts. 16: 29;  Js. 1:17; Rev. 18:23), or the sun (Rev. 22:5); of daylight (Jn. 11:9-10) and the opposite of darkness (Mt. 10:27; Lk. 12:3; Eph. 5:13); of the dazzling light which is God’s glory surrounding His throne (1 Tim. 6:16; Rev. 21:24) and Christ’s physical appearance after the Resurrection (Acts 9:3, 5; 22:6, 9, 11; 26:13).  And like its Old Testament counterpart, phos can be used in a figurative fashion as well.  It can mean spiritual understanding (Jn. 3:19; 8:12; Acts 26:18; Rom. 13:2; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:8; 1 Jn. 2:8); how that understanding is exhibited in the way one lives (Mt. 5:14-16), and the conscience, i.e. the “inner light” (Mt. 6:23; Lk. 11:35).  But perhaps the most significant use of the word phos in the New Testament is its connection to the fulfillment of Is. 9:2 in Mt. 4:12-17.  Jesus as the Great Teacher and Savior of the World is The Light who brings life and immortality to its fullest in His Gospel (Lk. 2:32; Jn. 1:4-5, 7-9; 3:19; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46) so it is no surprise that He makes the claim “I am the Light of the World” in Jn. 8:12.  But would one expect such a significant Light to make its entrance into the world as a baby?  Probably not!
            There was a time when our boys were growing up that we spent Christmas Eve with some very dear friends.  On that night they turned off all the lights and lit everything by candle light.  The ambiance was quite beautiful!  The church I grew up in also had a wonderful tradition with candles.  As the final minutes of Christmas Eve came to their conclusion the carol “Silent Night” would be sung.  Each person had a small candle in their hands and one by one they would all be lit around the sanctuary.  Precisely at midnight the organ would burst into “Joy to the World” and we’d lift up the candles and we sang about Christ’s birth.  The light of a candle is the epitome of Christmas symbols and a perfect reflection of “those who walked in darkness” coming to “see a great light” even as a babe in a manger (Is. 9:1-7).  It is my hope and prayer that The Candle of Christmas Jesus Christ, would burn brightly in your celebration of His birth this year and that you in turn, will shine His light on those around you.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
 

            For many years the little yellow pig with the funky orange and green flowers on her side, a tiny sticker that read, “Who me?” stuck on her nose, and a slot on the top of her back sat on my book shelves holding a small treasure trove of coins in her belly.  I’d purchased her in the mall at a store called “The Smuggler’s Attic” which was somewhat like the cross between a psychedelic Pier 1 Imports home décor shop and an underground bizarre selling questionably legal merchandise.  Every now and then I’d put money in her and every now and then I’d take it out.  For a while she landed on the shelf above the washing machine and collected whatever coins didn’t make it out of pockets before jeans were washed.  Nowadays she sits temporarily on top of my dresser in the bedroom glaringly out of place amongst hairbrushes, pictures and perfume bottles, but still doing the job of holding a few special coins and one old Monopoly dollar bill.  Piggy banks have been around for a long time as a means to teach children the importance of saving but I’m not sure if they’re as widely used today as they were when I bought mine because I thought she was cute back in the day.
            We are always looking for ways to save.  We buy things on sale.  We watch for discounts and compare prices.  We use coupons.  We know we need to save but the Bible is concerned that we know we need to be saved.  More than two hundred centuries ago some shepherds in fields just outside of Bethlehem received an astonishing announcement from an amazing messenger (Lk. 2:8-20).  Luke tells us that as they watched their flocks an angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, “Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born” (Lk. 2:10).  This was such good news to the shepherds they immediately sought out an audience with this special child (Lk. 2:15-16).  Because we’ve become quite self-sufficient these days, we’ve lost sight of the concept that humankind needs to be saved.  We may catch a glimpse of this when we go through a personal crisis that seems insurmountable.  But we forget that our plight is not limited to the physical realm.  The Bible tells us that in the spiritual realm we are desperately in need of a Savior (Rom. 3:21-26).
            Our need for a Savior is perhaps best illustrated in the grandest stories about salvation- the Exodus (Ex. 7-12).  Bound to a lifetime of slavery by their Egyptian taskmasters, the Israelites groaned under the weight of their labor.  They knew there was no way out of this situation.  They knew they did not have the physical or financial means to free themselves from their circumstances.  Enter Moses, an unlikely representative for the God who could save them, and after repeated resistance from Pharaoh “delivers” as promised.  We may not have a physical “slave owner” in our lives, but we are bound to one (Jn. 8:34; Rom. 6:6, 16-17. 20) and only a Savior can set us free from its grasp.  Hence the angel announces to those fear stricken shepherds that the Savior who is born is not solely for the shepherds alone; He is for all people (Lk. 2:10).
            Advent is often promoted as a time of waiting for the birth of Christ.  It was a wait that began in Eden (Gen. 3:15) whose fulfillment was promised through the prophets (Mic. 5:2-4) and was announced as fulfilled to a field full of sheep and shepherds.  The terms the angel uses to describe this child are significant.  He is a “soter” meaning savior, deliverer, preserver and specifically one who saves another from danger or destruction and brings them to a state of prosperity and happiness.  When spoken of Jesus as the Messiah it refers to Him as the Savior who delivers people from the power of sin, eternal death, the punishment and misery which is the consequence of that sin, and gives them eternal life and blessedness in His kingdom (Lk. 2:11; Acts 5:31;13:23; Phil. 3:20; 2 Pet. 1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18).  Jesus is also called “christos”, the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew term messiah, meaning an anointed one.  The term in the Old Testament referred to everyone who was anointed with the holy oil- primarily the priesthood and kings- but it was also applied to others who acted as redeemers or deliverers.  In the Gospels the word is applied chiefly to Jesus as He is anointed to be the Savior of the World (Mt. 1:17; 2:4; 16:16; Mk. 12:35; 13:21; Lk. 2:11, 26; Acts 2:36; 9:22; 18:28).  The first Advent, and the titles given to Jesus when it took place, addresses our need to be saved.
            Have you ever wondered why our little coin collectors came to be shaped like a pig?  Apparently in the Middle Ages the type of clay used to make them was called pygg and the pots became known as pig pots.  Even though other materials eventually replaced clay as the material of choice the name stuck.  When we were children our piggy banks reminded us that we needed to save money.  As adults Advent reminds us that we needed a Savior.  The Good News is we have one! (Lk. 2:10)
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

             Christmas is fast approaching and I’m glad to say that this year, I’m doing pretty well in the gift department.  I only have 2 more presents to get and send.  All the gift buying and wrapping often causes me to appreciate many of the gifts I’ve received through the years.  Some of those gifts have come from faraway places.  The friends and loved ones who bought these treasures for me knew the kinds of things I like and their gifts reflect that: a little copper pyramid from Egypt, Brussels lace from Wales, a lovely decorated bird from the Ukraine, and a “widow’s mite” from Israel.  None of them seem unusual and all of them have a personal meaning to me.
            Holiday souvenirs are not the only gifts that people give and receive.  When a baby is born the same usually happens.  Those gifts can range from the practical (diapers, bottles, baby clothes) to the more elaborate (monitoring systems, strollers that convert to car seats and baby rockers and numerous toys!) but in the end they are all useful in one way or another even if it’s just to entertain baby while you make dinner.  Not many people would think of bringing the kinds of gifts to a baby that the Wise Men brought to Jesus but Scripture tells us they brought 3 very costly gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.  It is obvious to most of us that gold is a gift you’d bring to a king and Matthew’s Gospel tells us that Wise Men did believe the star which led them to Jesus was an indication that royalty had been born (Mt. 2:1-2).  So we read of this gift and naturally pass by the other two without much thought.  But here is where the “baby gifts” get interesting!
            The use of essential oils has become quite popular recently but they are nothing new.  They were used widely in the ancient world for much of the same reasons we use them today, most notably in perfumes and medicinal treatments.  The Ebers Papyrus, a 16th c. B. C. list of medicines and recipes, includes both of the oils brought by the Wise Men to Jesus in Matthew 2- frankincense and myrrh.  Frankincense was extracted from the trunk of the Boswelia tree.  When the bark was cut resin would ooze out and harden into whitish beads.  These were collected and processed to make the oil.  Myrrh was also a plant based gum resin which was reddish in color.  Its name is derived from the Semetic root word mor which means “to be bitter” because of its taste.  Both of these oils were used perfumes and for incense (Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; Est. 2:12; Rut. 3:3; SOS 3:6; 4:6; 2 Sam. 12:20; Ex. 30:7-8, 23, 34; Lev. 2:1-12; 6:14-18; 24:7).  Once processed the oils were transported throughout the ancient world via camel caravans (Gen. 37:25; 43:11; Is. 60:6; Rev. 18:13).
            Although oils were used by both rich and poor, male or female to cover over offensive odors and protect the skin from the ravages of the climate and age, frankincense and myrrh did not fall in that common use category.  The regions where their sources grew (Arabia, Ethiopia, Somalia and India) made them more costly, so they along with several other oils were considered luxury items.  In fact because of their value and cost, frankincense and myrrh were on equal par with gold and silver as commodities for trade and a sign of wealth (Is. 20:12-15).  So it is not surprising that the Wise Men brought them along with their gold as a gift for the newborn royal the star had led them to.  What is surprising in the context of this “baby gift” is that both of these oils were used to prepare bodies for burial as well (Mk. 15:23; Jn. 19:39-40).  Can you imagine receiving a gift like that for your baby or even yourself?  They don’t seem to be as loving and personal as the collection of gifts I have in my home.  However, like the gift of gold the Wise Men brought which truly was fitting for a king (even though He was only a baby at the time) the frankincense and myrrh by both their value and purpose were fitting too in that they reflect the reason why this King was born in the first place.
            In the much-cherished Christmas hymn In the Bleak Mid-winter Christina Rosetti’s poignant lyrics ask an important question, “What can I give Him?”  The poetess considers the shepherds’ and Wise Men’s gifts as significant offerings but laments that she is not in a similar situation, so what can she give?  The conclusion is that she can give her heart.  In a commercial culture where Christmas has become a give-and-take holiday we check off a list of gifts we have to give and look forward to the ones we will get.  The Wise Men remind us that the One most deserving of gifts at Christmas (and especially those of value) is the Child whose gifts signified His death.  Rosetti’s poem reminds us that the best gift we can give Him in response to the gift He gave to us is our heart (Dt. 6:5; Mt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre