When I was a kid, I loved our church's Christmas Eve candlelight service. For one thing, I got to hold fire, which was cool. This type of service, and indeed any sort of candlelight vigil, generally involves the passing of the flame from person-to-person until a warm glow fills the space.
Bringing light to the darkness is a theme in many faith traditions. The Star of Bethlehem lighting the way for the wise men, announcing the birth of Jesus. The menorah's miraculous light for eight straight days. Diwali, a festival of lights symbolizing victory of light over darkness is celebrated annually by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and more around the world.
But it's not just in religion that we seek to bring light. We walk with candles after tragedies, in protest, in remembrance. Humans have been seeking to keep the light going since we first discovered fire.
The thought of these Christmas Eve services came to me recently while listening to a speaker talk about coping with the very difficult things going on in our world. How do we deal with the emotions that the crises abroad and at home generate, yet we are largely powerless to affect?
I can't personally aid thousands of innocent and displaced people in Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. I can't comfort Israelis, Palestinians, Ukrainians, and others suffering the effects of war around the world. I alone can't change the minds or assuage the fears of antisemites, homophobes, Islamophobes, and racists.
But I can love my neighbor. I can smile at strangers. I can do my best to have empathy for those I don't fully understand. I can hug people a little tighter, a little longer. Maybe if we all do, we can put a little more light into a dark world.
Wishing you all light and love.
Here’s some other stuff for Your December
How to Stay Sane in Brutalizing Times
by David Brooks, NYTimes
This is a beautiful article by David Brooks that reflects on some of the same thoughts I’ve shared here very deeply and using historical context. It’s amazing, thought-provoking writing like this that keep me paying for my newspaper subscription.
A past post of mine full of ideas for gifts that won’t pile up in your basement, the landfill, and might just create wonderful memories.