Ken Crews Blog

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

-Hebrews 13:8

Bellies full. Dishes cleared. Parades ended. One season ends, another begins.

And so, I began trudging up and down the ladder into the attic to retrieve the Christmas decorations. Years ago, my Christmas tradition included a trip to cut down a fresh tree, but times change.

Box opened. Base constructed. Branches fluffed. The rhythm of preparing the tree for another season begins.

With great anticipation, I look forward to chilly evenings with only the lights on the Christmas tree to illumine the room. It is in my top three most relaxing things. Among the hustle and bustle of Advent and Christmas busyness, I find peace and calm in the glow of the little incandescent lights.

Lights checked. One-third worked. WAIT! WHAT? Only one-third work?

Yes, only a small number of the lights worked this year. It was either time to find and replace any number of little bulbs or buy new lights. Like most folks, our family keeps a busy schedule, and the decision was made to pay for the convenience of new lights.

Options considered. ‘Warm White’ LED purchased. Lights checked. WAIT! WHAT? This isn’t ‘Warm White’!

What has been marketed as ‘Warm White’ seems more reminiscent of ‘Convenience Store Cooler’. What was I to do? The thought crossed my mind to go straight back to the store and find a more suitable option; however, I decided to give these new lights a try. Perhaps I was overreacting a bit.

Night one – nope! Night two – maybe? Night three – this could work. Making space for the new thing is allowing my little tradition to continue in a new way.

Sitting in the glow of the new lights, I was invited to consider that my meaningful little tradition had less to do with the actual lights and more to do with the space they helped create in my life. Space to breathe. Space to be quiet. Space to simply be in God’s presence.

Change is sometimes hard. Change is sometimes unwanted. Change can invite new ways to enjoy meaningful traditions and see things anew. While worldly things may change, the Christ we are preparing for in this Advent season remains “the same yesterday and today and forever.”

How might a change this Advent season invite you to experience the steadfast love of God revealed through Jesus the Christ anew?

Peace,

Ken Crews