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12.11.2004 Craving Light This is a difficult time of year for those of us that work day jobs. Some mornings, I go into the building where I teach just as the sun is rising only to emerge at the end of the day into darkness. Every morning on my way to work I anticipate the sunrise. I look forward to seeing the way God will mix light and color in the atmosphere. I have seen some spectacular sunrises lately. I made the observation that just as we are approaching the darkest days of the year; we do our best to make light a bigger part of our lives. As I drive home from work each evening, lights are everywhere. The houses are outlined in multicolored flashing lights. Trees are tipped in bright white lights. Shrubbery is netted with light. There are reindeer, Santas, and nativity scenes outlined in lights. Even Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is being celebrated now. Each night they light a candle in the menorah to celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah. (The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication." When Judah the Maccabee and his followers reclaimed the Holy Temple of Jerusalem from the Syrian King who was suppressing the Jewish people in Israel, they cleaned the temple and prepared it for rededication. When the sacred temple Menorah was relit, there was only enough sacred oil to burn for one day. But the oil miraculously lasted eight days.) Each night the candles burn through the night bringing more and more light as the days get shorter and the nights longer. I think we crave light. We need light. And as I write this, I realize that light has so many dimensions. And light is hard to define. Further, there is light that we see and there is light that we feel or experience. We can see the effects of true light, just like we can see the effects of true fire. But true light does not require electricity. True light is given to us from God. True light is the HOPE that we need to get through the darkness, to get through the darkest days of the year and the darkest days of our lives. Light can move us into action. Light symbolizes God’s power. Light symbolizes God’s greatest gift to us. Over 2000 years ago, wise men followed the bright star announcing the birth of the precious babe Jesus. And that precious babe grew up to be the Prince of Peace saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) God’s light is often depicted as a lighthouse, as a star, as a guiding light. It shows us the way to true peace, and joy, and happiness no matter the circumstances. God’s light can fill our souls and spill over. We can shine. We can be instruments of God’s light. We can spread light. And in doing so lead someone back to the Source if they have strayed. Sometimes, I visualize God’s light filling me up. As I fill up with light, I send it out to others. I sometimes visualize someone I am praying for surrounded by God’s light. And when I am feeling really connected to God’s light, I send light out to the whole world. When the world seems so dark around us, we have to share our light. When the night outlasts the day, we have to create even more light here by loving others. Light is a precious gift that God has given us. But in order to keep this gift, we must give it away. Becoming Light We need Light We crave Light We pray for Light We are filled with Light We manifest Light We love the Light We shine Light We share Light We become Light -E.S. Scripture “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” –1 Corinthians 4:6 “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” –John 1:9 Quote “I never behold the stars that I do not feel that I am looking into the face of God.” –Abe Lincoln “We have all been given a lighted lamp and it is for us to keep it burning. We can keep it burning only if we keep on pouring oil inside. That oil comes from our acts of love.” –Mother Teresa Prayer Lord, fill us with your light. Let us be an instrument of your light. Let us shine your light. Help us all stay focused on your light in these Holy days. Amen.
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