Merry Christmas everyone!

Into the darkness a baby was born. The baby grew, learned to speak, learned to walk and hug. Was treated poorly, was despised and rejected and treated shamefully. But the words he spoke were the words of God, the footprints he left were the path to eternal life, the embraces he gave were the model to peace on earth.

Then he was abused and killed in front of his mother, in front of his friends. His hands and feet pinned down. Still his mouth spoke of forgiveness and hope. Still his life gave life and light to his neighbor.

The world became dark at his death. And for three days hope mixed with fear—he had spoken of rising again.

Then Sunday morning the sunrise came, rays of heaven shone into our world—he stood again—shone into hearts, emboldening and empowering 5 then 12 then 500. The Day chased back the Night.

Light turned the world upside down. Upside-down people spoke hope, walked further into darkness, embraced the weary and downtrodden, the broken, the enslaved. Undoing darkness in the deepest parts. And the world has never been the same. Joy, love, hope, and forgiveness. Peace on earth.

All because a baby was born.