"Your move"

You’ve probably heard the saying – “life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it”. There seems to be some truth in this saying. We go through a lot of things in life. Some good, some not so much. However, with the choices that we make, we can morph our experience of that which “happens to us”. A good example of this is the following story…

It was during the dark winter of 1864. At Petersburg, Virginia, the Confederate army of Robert E. Lee faced the Union divisions of General Ulysses S. Grant. The war was now three and a half years old and the glorious charge had long since given way to the muck and mud of trench warfare. Late one evening one of Lee’s generals, Major General George Pickett, received word that his wife had given birth to a beautiful baby boy. Up and down the line the Southerners began building huge bonfires in celebration of the event. These fires did not go unnoticed in the Northern camps and soon a nervous Grant sent out a reconnaissance patrol to see what was going on. The scouts returned with the message that Pickett had had a son and these were celebratory fires. It so happened that Grant and Pickett had been contemporaries at West Point and knew one another well, so to honour the occasion Grant, too, ordered that bonfires should be built.

What a peculiar night it was. For miles on both sides of the lines, fires burned. No shots fired. No yelling back and forth. No war fought. Only light, celebrating the birth of a child. But it didn’t last forever. Soon the fires burned down and once again the darkness took over. The darkness of the night and the darkness of war.

Having received the message, the meaning behind the fires that night, Grant had to make a choice. The Southerners had made their move and now it was time for his. He chose to accept this message and as a result, the battlefront was filled with peace and joy, even if it was just for that one magical night.

This story reminds me a lot of something that happened around 2000 years ago.

Akin to the fires set alight that night by Pickett, one dark autumn night, whilst a group of shepherds tended their flocks, the sky lit up with a bright light. Messenger angels were sent to announce a tiding of joy to mankind – the birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ; a message of “great joy” and “peace, goodwill toward men“. Wise men of the East witnessed the birth of a bright star; one they had not seen before. It lit their way to the child’s manger.

The heavens had lit up fires, which pierced through the earthly darkness with their bright light. Even though a lot of people witnessed this light, very few, as opposed to Grant, bothered to find out the reason for this phenomenon, and even fewer accepted the message conveyed through it, sent out to each and every one.

Those that accepted it, received heavenly gifts which changed their lives forever. The wise men of the East departed happy from the meeting with the Child, taking the good tidings of peace back to their own lands. Similarly, the humble shepherds, excited by the coming of the promised Saviour were transformed by this incredible meeting in the manger of Bethlehem. They all accepted the light coming down from heaven and continued to carry and spread it every day. For them it was a constant source of joy, peace and hope…

What can be said about the others who witnessed the great light of heaven, but did not respond to its message? Surely many in Jerusalem were moved by what they had seen or heard that night? Very soon, however, the fires died down and the everyday fight continued. It is as if the world had paused for a moment, only to return to the raging war of everyday life again. The firing of bullets resumed.

It is this image that occupies my thoughts today. In these last days of the year, Christendom celebrates the Nativity of Christ. It is as if – once or twice a year – the heavenly light shines through to us, whenever we look back at that scene from 2000 years ago. The hearts of many are touched and warmed again, at least for a day or two. People are warmer and more generous… And yet, this light is only ten percent. The other ninety percent is our response to the light and its message – what a role it will play in our life and how it will change us and others.

Fortunately for us, together with the promises and blessings that it brought, this light did not die down 2000 years ago. No, it lit up and it is still shining to this very day with the same intensity and power to change human lives. It still brings with it peace, joy and hope to those that accept its message. Sure, you may not be able to visibly see it when looking at the night sky, however, those that seek it can still find it within the pages of the Holy Scripture. The One, Who was not only born to be light, but Who confirmed its worth and trustworthiness by giving His life for it.

Around 2000 years ago, heaven made its move – it lit up its fires… What will be your response? Will you accept its message? Will you let its light shine into your home, work and life? Or will you let another year pass by, in constant struggles and defeats? Is it necessary that we wait yet another year to see this heavenly message’s light again?

Heaven awaits your move today. It watches with interest, in anticipation of your response – the Scripture invites us: