One month from now is winter solstice. Every day it gets darker. This is the hardest part of the year for me. The pre-winter darkness. Before the plunge into frigid temps, we’re forced indoors by the night that descends before 5:00 p.m.
At bedtime when my son is afraid of the dark, I comfort him by telling him the darkness is not scary—it’s cozy. Like a blanket. But if I’m honest with myself, I don’t always believe it.
Maybe it’s the short days, that have me feeling low. But it could also be the awareness of suffering in other parts of the world. So much senseless death and destruction. So much sorrow and fear.
Thursday is Thanksgiving and although I have a lot to be grateful for, my list feels flimsy under the weight of everything else. It would be so easy to let it go and watch it blow away on the wind. I’m thankful for my house, but shouldn’t everyone have a safe place to live? I’m thankful for my family, but shouldn’t each person have people to belong to? I’m thankful for my job, but shouldn’t all people have an opportunity to earn an income doing something that brings them satisfaction? I’m thankful for my health, but shouldn’t all of us have what we need to thrive? My gratitude dries up in my mouth as I think about people who don’t have these basic needs met.
It’s no wonder that people throughout the ages have reached toward one another and built traditions and rituals around light this time of year. We need reminders that light can—and will—overcome the darkness. We need hands to hold, songs to sing, prayers to share, stories to read, and comfort food to nourish our bodies and souls.
Diwali is a festival of lights in which Hindu people light lamps, candles, and lanterns to celebrate the victory of light over darkness.
Hanukkah is another festival of lights, in which Jewish people light nine candles in the Menorah, celebrating a miracle of light provided by one small jar of oil.
Advent is the season when Christian people light candles in a wreath, one for each week before Christmas, in anticipation of celebrating the incarnation of the Light of the World in Jesus. Christmas is celebrated with twinkling lights and candles too.
Winter Solstice is often celebrated with bonfires, lanterns, and candles to mark the longest night and celebrate the slow return of light from then on.
Kwanzaa is a celebration of Black American culture and involves lighting seven candles in a kinara.
New Year’s Eve is celebrated with fireworks all over the world, lighting up the sky in jubilation.
And certainly there are many other cultural and religious traditions with light as the centerpiece.
Light brings us joy and hope. It connects us to one another and to a Source bigger than ourselves. It reminds us that darkness will not last forever.
I remember my first experience touring a cave beneath the plains of South Dakota. The guide told us how spelunkers would search for tunnels and wiggle their way through tight spaces. At one point, deep underground, the guide turned off the lights illuminating our path. The sudden darkness was astonishing. I couldn’t see my own hand in front of my face. Even though I was with a group of people, I felt eerily alone.
And then she lit a small candle. A tiny flame cast flickering light all over the cavern where we were standing. We could see each other again. We could see the stone walls all around. Just one tiny bit of light was all it took to make the oppressive darkness disappear.
So, I guess in the end, I’m thankful for light. In all its forms. Candles and lamps and twinkle lights and bonfires. And I’m thankful for the light I see in good people doing their best to make the most of life. I’m thankful for people who do hard things to make the world a little brighter. I’m thankful for holidays and family traditions that remind us who we belong to and give us opportunities to express gratitude and generosity.
I need to focus on the light this season, looking for goodness and wholeness and love. Will you join me?
With gratitude,
—NK
Photo credits for holiday lights gallery images:
Fireworks: by MIO ITO on Unsplash
Bonfire: by Luke Porter on Unsplash
Kinara: by Available Light on iStock
Advent Wreath: by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash
Menorah: by Robert Thiemann on Unsplash
Rangoli: by Suchandra Roy Chowdhury on Unsplash