"The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." The tribes, and thus lands, of Zebulun and Naphtali were vulnerable to attack because of their location in Israel. The constant threat required that they become competent warriors. Being able to navigate through darkness doesn't make the absence of light any easier. And when light finally shines in that space, we tend to cherish it more. As we end this Advent season, there is something about being able to experience the light of Christ because you have had to live through the darkness of this world. The blessing of this season is not in everything being easy; it is in recognizing the love and light of Christ even when things are hard!