The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. Those words have been on my mind quite a bit lately. They are words I memorized once upon a childhood Christmas pageant. Our pageants would begin with the prophets, standing on pew benches, scattered among the seated throughout a dark church, and calling out these words into the darkness. Finally we would sing, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, leading into the nativity story.
This Advent season the people who walk in darkness are ever present in my heart. This year's holiday cards- the dove of peace amid a winter scene full of light- will be sent out in many directions to places of darkness. Most family and friends are easily connected- our wires are ever-intertwined by facebook, skype, twitter, text messages, emails, cell phones, blogs, and more- not to mention the gifts and hugs we can exchange in person. But there are others unplugged (in prison cell, combat zone, hospitals, elderly and poor) for whom handwritten cards might be the only way to connect. These are the ones I think of this year- some known, some unknown- as I write personalized cards with my children's help.
And there are many, so many, for whom darkness has a hold, even in the midst of our technologically connected world. The holidays with all their sparkling lights bring out the sadness, the depression, the loneliness in many people. There are ways then that we can be angels- not by shoving our holiday cheer at then- but by kindling the light hidden deep within. If there is light to be seen, it is the light of hope that glows within each human being, the flame of compassion that flickers and burns between us, and the fire of joy that we can only know in communion with each other.
We too are the people in darkness, and we have seen a great light...it is the light of spirit, glowing within and around us all. And it is the light of our best humanity, birthing hope, compassion, and joy into this world.
May we extend our love to light the flame in another who's candle may have gone out. And together may our lights illuminate the darkness.
This Advent season the people who walk in darkness are ever present in my heart. This year's holiday cards- the dove of peace amid a winter scene full of light- will be sent out in many directions to places of darkness. Most family and friends are easily connected- our wires are ever-intertwined by facebook, skype, twitter, text messages, emails, cell phones, blogs, and more- not to mention the gifts and hugs we can exchange in person. But there are others unplugged (in prison cell, combat zone, hospitals, elderly and poor) for whom handwritten cards might be the only way to connect. These are the ones I think of this year- some known, some unknown- as I write personalized cards with my children's help.
And there are many, so many, for whom darkness has a hold, even in the midst of our technologically connected world. The holidays with all their sparkling lights bring out the sadness, the depression, the loneliness in many people. There are ways then that we can be angels- not by shoving our holiday cheer at then- but by kindling the light hidden deep within. If there is light to be seen, it is the light of hope that glows within each human being, the flame of compassion that flickers and burns between us, and the fire of joy that we can only know in communion with each other.
We too are the people in darkness, and we have seen a great light...it is the light of spirit, glowing within and around us all. And it is the light of our best humanity, birthing hope, compassion, and joy into this world.
May we extend our love to light the flame in another who's candle may have gone out. And together may our lights illuminate the darkness.
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