Major Alison Gardner, Keighley Salvation Army, writes

We light our poor dark world once more With twinkling lamps on Christmas trees, And luminous shapes on languid lawns ...

And we, like moths to a street lamp lured, Stumble towards the dusty light.

Warmed, renewed, recharged, We fly, our fragile lives sustained awhile.

Marlene Chase

It is not hard to see, or understand, why ancient peoples of the northern hemisphere originated festivals to celebrate light at the darkest time of the year. However, once the shortest day has gone and Christmas is past the days gradually begin to stay lighter longer.

This may only be a few minutes each day but slowly the darkness will be driven back. The difference is small and you may miss it but it is happening.

When Christmas, quite literally, first occurred the light that had come into the world was perceived by only a few people. Perhaps Mary, Joseph, Anna and Simeon are the best examples of this group.

They were not rich, powerful or influential people but they were actively looking, hoping and seeking the God who promised to come. The shepherds may not have known the ancient prophecies of the Messiah; nevertheless they were surprised by the angel host that led them to find the Christ-child. The wise men knew something momentous was happening and in their own way stumbled through the darkness to find the light of men.

In a Christmas talk, Michel Quoist noted that a fire doesn’t burn less brightly because we did not see the hand that lit it.

The number of people in Keighley who volunteer to help with Salvation Army programmes and the many gifts the public have donated to the Christmas Gift appeal, especially at Sainsbury’s, reflect the giving of the one who gave his only Son at Christmas, even if that is not the stated motivation.

As we at Keighley Salvation Army High Street Centre carry on with our routine of Christmas carol playing, parcel wrapping and preparing food parcels for over 300 children and their families in our town, all deserving of extra help this Christmas (as referred by schools, family centres, social services and health visitors) — we may miss the increasing light that comes with Christmas.

I pray that through the busyness of preparing Christmas for you and yours, some will see the light, not poor reflections but the light of Christ who wraps his love, light and life around our hearts and sustains our fragile lives in the surrounding darkness