Light of hope

A have just been to visit a friend. Her daughter has three lovely children and a loving husband. She also has cancer. Of course she lives with hope, for Liz knows that many cancer sufferers pull through. But her cancer has returned and the prospects are not bright.

We live in a beautiful world, marked by glorious sunsets, smiling children, infectious laughter, supportive friendships and loving families.

But that same world is often bewildering. And sometimes it is downright terrifying.

We've seen some of that terror recently, in the newspapers and on the TV. Hatred boiling over - in Bethlehem of all places.

A young boy left bleeding to death on the stairwell of flats. And near the beach in Littlehampton, where I once enjoyed a holiday, another child was attacked by thugs. In many ways these are dark days.

The Bible has a lot to say about darkness - about human wickedness and savagery and indifference. But it also carries a message of hope and light. One of the great Bible passages combines the two: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light."

In thousands of church services around the world, this verse will be applied to the Child whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. For Christians believe that Jesus is indeed the light and hope of the world. Many people in the modern world are unsure about this. For them Christmas brings wistfulness. They long for this amazing story to be true. They would love to believe that "the hopes and fears of all the years, are met in Thee tonight". They hope that God did come to us as a vulnerable child and that his Spirit continues to work in our world and in our lives.

But is it really true? What evidence is there that Jesus brings light to banish the darkness? From a range of possible responses I will pick four key words.

Inspiration: Surgeon Rowland Cowley OBE is a good example of this.

He is 76 and spent his working life as an eye-surgeon. Several countries in the developing world continue to invite him to help train their own surgeons.

He comments: "Things that used to seem important no longer are, like having a lot of money, or having a modern car, that sort of thing. What is important is to love your neighbour as yourself.

"Before I became a Christian, if anybody had suggested that I would retire to go and work in developing countries, I'd have said they were mad. But I've thoroughly enjoyed the work that I have been doing. To me it has been much more satisfying than the work I did before."

On Christmas Day, Rowland will attend his local church with his wife Tessa. They will rejoice at the birth of Jesus, their Saviour and inspiration.

Transformation: Once Malcolm Worsley was a thief. He was well known to the police and often caught! On leaving prison yet again, a prison officer said: "You'll be back Worsley". This stung Malcolm but the officer was right.

Malcolm did go back - not as a prisoner, but as a probation officer. Because in his heart Malcolm heard the voice of Jesus Christ saying: "Follow me." He accepted that invitation. Since then Malcolm has worked with drug addicts and others in need.

In July 1996 he was ordained a Christian minister.

Encouragement: We all remember Lisa Potts. As a nursery nurse she shot to fame after a violent attack.

On a day that seemed like any other, she was looking after the young children in her class.

Then everything changed. A man with a machete attacked them.

Lisa was incredibly brave and protected the children. No one was killed, but she was badly injured. Lisa received 18 bravery awards, including the George Medal. She still has flashbacks but draws strength from her faith in Jesus Christ.

One of Jesus's titles is 'Emmanuel' which means, 'God with us'. Lisa is aware of his constant presence, bringing reassurance and comfort.

On Christmas Day, she will give thanks to God for sending his Son to save and strengthen us.

Hope: As Christmases come and go, most of us become aware of our mortality. As Mark Twain put it so graphically: "No one gets out alive!"

And what then? Do we bumble around for 80 or 90 years, only to fall off the edge into extinction?

Or is death the gateway to eternal life?

Dame Cicely Saunders is quite clear that light, not darkness has the last word.

She is an inspiring Christian who founded the hospice movement, which has brought hope and comfort to thousands around the world.

As a young nurse she became convinced of two things.

Firstly, the need for better pain control.

Secondly, the importance of small intimate units, specialising in care for the dying.

She qualified as a doctor and gave to the world the international hospice movement. She speaks with conviction about the significance of Jesus for her life and work. He is her inspiration and strength. On Christmas Day she will join with a great multitude in affirming and celebrating her faith in Jesus Christ as the Light of the world.

All of us - young and old alike - are invited to the party.

* John Young has written a dozen books including Wrestling With Giants, just published as a Hodder paperback.