"By the tender mercy of our God,

the dawn from on high will break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luke 1:79

Christmas is, at its root, the hope of dawn breaking in the darkness of long night.

Did you ever notice?  In a lighted room, when a closet door is opened, the light from the room spills into the darkness of the closet-- and the reverse is never true-- that is, the dark from the closet does not ever spill into the lighted room.  

It is light's nature to overcome darkness.  

It is God's nature to show tender mercy to us, to give light to us who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

It is our nature to respond to God's extension of tender mercy.  

We are created to respond to God. 

Our response to God's tender mercy, according to Zechariah's words in Luke 1?

To walk, by God's guidance, in the way of peace.

How can I, on this busy Christmas eve day

walk, guided by God, into the way of peace?

What does that even look like?