The light

Its purpose

The striking commonality to the winter religious celebrations is the emphasis on light. Christians use lights as central to dress up Christmas trees, bringing colored as well as white light into focus in celebrating change from the darkness of the northern hemisphere’s deep winter (yes, Christianity did migrate from the northern hemisphere to the south so the symbolism does seem a bit stretched for those down under the Equator) towards the hope and brightness of spring. The oft-retold story Jesus’s birth offers the star a major role with that celestial body guiding the Magi to visit the newborn, then as well to avoid King Herod and his nefarious plans for the baby as they return home. Light symbolizes peace and hope, two aspirations in short supply for so much of the world this past year.

Hanukkah, the eight-day festival Jews begin celebrating tomorrow evening, focuses the commemoration of the oil for a single day’s lights at the Second Temple miraculously lasting fully eight days. Jews gather round the Menorah to add an candle, with specific blessings repeated over the millennia, each night for a week in awe of this expanded, sustaining light in the aftermath of a Maccabean revolt against one of the multitude of oppressive actions visited upon Jews for their religion. In this era of steadily growing anti-Semitism across the globe, the assurance provided by burning the Menorah’s candles encourages many who are fearful for what the future brings while reinforcing how enduring Judaism has been.

Both of these religions accentuate this power of light as a connection, each providing sustenance to believers and even non-believers grasping for clarity in the days ahead.

My wish for all of us is that we be candles over the next few days. The holidays are fraught with emotion for virtually everyone, though it is obviously far easier to be the five year-olds playing with a dreidel as they savor fried, sweetened pieces of bread, or a four year-old anxiously asking whether Santa will enjoy the cookies and milk she leaves proudly on the table before bed. Likely those youngsters will bring some light to parents everywhere as they represent the future with its aspirations.

But, each of us has the ability to reach out to someone alone, someone in pain, someone desperately missing a loved one, or someone facing the cruelty of some form of ill health. It is so meaningful to give that person a brief call or to even quickly send a six word text to reassure he or she is not forgotten, not entirely abandoned, or not irrelevant. Perhaps we know the individual well enough to send a the second cat video clip, that seemingly universal approach to relieving tensions. I am not advocating canceling plans with family but we never know when a brief contact can make a life sustaining difference. The spread of light reinforcing the sinew of relationships is the commonality of the season and is every bit as vital as the air we breathe.

Actions create consequences. No present feels as wonderful as providing that spark between people, none.

I wish you and your family the most joyous of holidays. I appreciate your time any time you read this column. I welcome your thoughts, your concerns, or your photographs of the season. Thank you for being a major portion of every one of my days as I do not take you for granted.

I close today with the sunrise today, a further manifestation of that light. May yours be bright, whether you see it or the clouds of the day temporarily obscure that light. It’s still there.

Be well and be safe. FIN