... and the life was the light of all people. John 1:4
There is a beautiful story recounted every Christmas in the forests of Provence in southern France. It's about the four shepherds who came to Bethlehem to see the child. One brought eggs, another bread and cheese, the third brought wine. And the fourth brought nothing at all. People called him L'Enchante. The first three shepherds chatted with Mary and Joseph, commenting on how well Mary looked, how cozy was the cave and how handsome Joseph was in it. What a beautiful starlit night! Finally someone asked, "Where is L'Enchante?" They searched high and low, up and down, inside and out. Finally, someone peeked through the blanket hung up against the crib into the crèche. And there kneeling at the crib was L'Enchante. He stayed the entire night in adoration. Another response, beyond silence and action, to the call from the wild is enchantment. Simple enchantment. It is what we can see in just one candle.
Light One Candle by Donna Schaper - with thanks to The United Church of Christ website.
"The secret of Christian contemplation is that it faces us with Jesus Christ toward our suffering world in loving service and just action..." Catherine of Siena
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