Silhouettes

I walked by the sea this morning as the sun was rising. The half-light meant that I couldn’t see people clearly. I said ‘Good morning,’ to people’s outlines. I couldn’t see who they were. I was speaking to silhouettes.

Our Christmas plans are still being formed. We know certain events that will happen over the next three weeks, but presents are still being bought, detailed timings are still being arranged, food shopping has still to happen. Our plans are in outline. They’re silhouettes.

Sixty years ago ‘Herman’s Hermits’ sung ‘Silhouettes’. It tells the story of a man who sees ‘Two silhouettes on the shade’ kissing. He thinks that one is his girlfriend, so he gets angry. He confronts the couple – only to discover that it’s not his girlfriend at all. It’s a case of mistaken identity.

For Christians, Advent is about looking at a silhouette. There’s a narrative outline – a teenage pregnancy, an uncertain engagement, a journey to Bethlehem, a baby’s birth, shepherds, wise men… There’s another outline – light, life, hope, joy, peace, love. We look at the silhouette. We try to see a clearer picture.

If all we see is silhouette there can easily be a case of mistaken identity. Sweet children singing Christmas carols can be mistaken for a baby Jesus. Father Christmas can be mistaken for a Father God.

As I kept walking this morning the sun rose, bringing its light. I could see people more clearly – the cheerful dog walker, the man in work-weary overalls, the school-girl delivering papers – ordinary recognisable people… no longer silhouettes.

In this Advent period I’m musing on Jesus who comes bringing light to darkness, who comes to our world as an ordinary guy, yet somehow is extra-ordinary. My prayer is that as I look, a little more light may shine on the familiar silhouette of arrangements, narrative and meaning so that I may see more clearly… and as a result I may love more dearly and follow more nearly.