December Light

December 1, 2014



Good Morning,

It is the first day of December and we feel the result of the waning light in our daily lives. This morning I sit with a candle lit as the darkness still presses against the windows.

It seems as though the human being responds to this event on a deep level. Looking at the religious traditions of cultures across the world, it is not hard to find evidence of this phenomenon. The Hindus celebrate the festival of Diwali, which is also called the Festival of Lights. It signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. This five-day festival is celebrated with many rituals. Lanterns are lit inside and outside the home, prayers are offered, special foods are prepared, and gifts are given. In the Jewish tradition, Hanukkah is celebrated over a period of eight nights. A candle is lit each night on the menorah. Families gather, special foods are prepared, Hanukkah games are played, and prayers are recited. In the Christian tradition, candles are placed on a circular Advent wreath. One candle is lit on each of the four Sundays during Advent. On the Sunday before Christmas, all of the candles are burning. It is interesting to note that none of these traditions occur on a fixed date. They are all movable and occur during the darkest time of the year.

In our household, we have always followed the tradition of the Advent wreath. It is fun to go outdoors to gather the greens and then to put the wreath together. The candles are lit in the morning to signify the beginning of the new day. They are also lit during meals throughout the advent season. As yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent, only the first of the four candles is burning this morning. It is a comfort and provides a way to center oneself before the activities of the day commence.

We are still digging out from our first snowstorm of the season. It proved to be quite destructive. It was wet and heavy, which created a burden that was too much to bear for many of our trees and shrubs. Limbs fell, resulting in widespread power outages. Candles were our salvation during the storm. During the night, the sound of breaking and falling limbs was eerie. Living without power was a trial. There was no heat, water, or indoor plumbing. Much of the food in the refrigerator was lost. The snow was wet and heavy for shoveling, which made for aching backs. Fallen limbs needed to be tended to, and trees needed a good shake to prevent further damage. It was exhausting. Due to the lack of electricity, Thanksgiving was postponed for many families. Others simply cooked what they could on the grill.

Human beings are adaptable. We struggle and do our best to cope with challenging situations. It is no a surprise that so many spiritual traditions adopted festivals to help them gather the strength to manage this darkness. These are the things that feed the soul.

The sun is now up. There are brilliant streaks of fuchsia and pale blue just above the horizon. The strength harnessed from the candlelight this morning will provide the necessary nourishment to carry me through the new day.