Let your Light shine

I look forward to getting up in the dark of morning and sitting among the soft glow of candlelight. There is a quiet hope and contentment about it. A reminder that there is light in the darkness, a trust that emerges out of the shroud of blackness before the dawn.

Moving into a new year feels somewhat like the dark before the dawn – it’s no secret that I feel the weight of these past months and I know I am not alone as I hear it in the voices of others.  On this eve of a new year the hope for gathering among friends dangles before us as a vaccine is distributed. But not yet. The dawn of new life shimmers amid depression, the difficulties encountered by loss of income, a lack of passion, or the inability to go out and work for the good of the world. But the morning is not here yet. 

The hope and comfort of a candle this morning brought light to a question, why would I keep it to myself? No flicker of hope is too small. No word of comfort is wasted. So I’ll light a candle in the dark and share it with another. Share the light of a phone call, a letter (like the snail-mail kind), an email. Smile with my eyes over the edge of a mask. Thank the store clerk by name. If they live alone, it may be the only time they hear their name in a day and know they matter. 

The darkness shall not overcome the light – as I share some light with another and they share with another…a flicker will become a flame and together we can be the hope in the dark before the dawn. 

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket.
Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see
the good things you do and praise God.
Matthew 5:15-16

with prayer for a healthy 2021 blessed with the grace of peace and joy.
in this together… 

(Will you light a candle with me? When you have a few minutes, click here and join me for a meditation reminding us to keep the candles burning.)