The Christmas decorations have been up for a few weeks, and Christmas is truly in the air.

The temperature is cooling off, and I seem to notice the brightness of the sun in a different way.

The other day, as I was driving to the store, the sun seemed brighter than usual, almost more than I could look at. It made me think of the countless stories of the people of God being led by the bright light of God Himself.

God’s first words in Scripture: “Let there be light.”… Light represented God Himself from the very beginning. Moses saw the light of a burning bush. Job often talked about the light that extinguishes darkness. Isaiah tells us to walk in the light of the Lord. And perhaps the most well-known description of light from John’s Gospel: “…the Word was God…and the life was the light of all people…the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world…”

God gave us the sun to break through the darkness, but it represents even more than that. It’s a reminder of the true light that brings joy, peace, and contentment. That light is the glory of the Son of God.

In a few short days, we will celebrate yet again the remembrance of the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World. And the next time you see the sun, remember the Light that came from Heaven to dwell within you. Welcome that Holy Light!

About the author: Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson is the priest at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in LaBelle.