It's the 26th of December. The December religious holidays have come and gone again. Or have they?

December is an active month for many, yet, it can also be one of great peace and so much joy, celebrated with friends, family, gifts–given and received, the lights–oh, the candles and lights–and music, food and more. There is much to enjoy, especially when balanced with a little quiet personal time, too. 

Our Jewish friends lit the eighth night's candle last night. My photographic training informs me that eight lights in proximity of one another aren't eight times brighter than one. They are exponentially brighter. 

Many people around the world celebrated Christmas yesterday. Those in the Eastern Orthodox Christian traditions are preparing to celebrate around the sixth and seventh of January. Lights and references to "the Light of the world" express Christian beliefs so beautifully. After all, who doesn't like light?

Kwanzaa, is a 50+ year old tradition which begins its 2022 celebration today. Its mission began as honor to African-American culture. It's also celebrated with food, family, festivities and, again, beautiful separately lit candles.

Although occurring mid-autumn, the Hindu celebration of Diwali honors another Festival of Lights recognizing "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance." 

What types of lessons life-changes do all these celebrations of light invite?

In many cases light refers to the goodness in the world, in community, in the divine - however we each define or label it. The light could be from one person or all people. Most importantly, it often signifies light from within ourselves. It is this light which unifies us with whatever we each consider is sacred or holy:  the Light. When we recognize that we have - or share - that Light, we become empowered and impassioned to do great and meaningful acts of goodness, kindness and love. Our light is a form of Love itself.

This begs the question, "what shall we do with our light?"

Howard Thurston, noted American theologian, dean, civil rights and and social justice leader, and philosopher penned these words for us:

The Work of Christmas
by Howard Thurston

When the song of the angels is stilled
when the star in the sky is gone
when the kings and princes are home
when the shepherds are back with their flocks
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost
to heal the broken
to feed the hungry
to release the prisoner
to rebuild the nations
to bring peace among the people
to make music in the heart.

Now that we've celebrated our light, what will you do with yours?

This Little Light of Mine
performed by Sam Cooke at the Copacabana

This ⬆️ link 🆙 should work. If not, follow another rendition on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/OfFjBXR6IwE 

A few additional reminders from some of our historical friends:

Just as one candle lights another and can light thousands of other candles, so one heart illuminates another heart and can illuminate thousands of other hearts.
— Leo Tolstoy

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.
— Desmond Tutu


However you celebrated this season, remember there is light within reach. There's some in the world, in other people, and deep within yourself.  Reach for it, embrace it, bathe in it, and share it freely.

Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.
— Maya Angelou
 

                  ~~~~~~~~~

Photo

"Share Our Light"
©2020 Connie Drapeau Kennedy
All rights reserved. Express permission required for most usage. 

Exceptions made exclusively for social media shares with intact copyright attribution. 

[Image description: A dark scene shows details from a few stems of a Christmas tree against a dark background. Some colorful tree lights are visible. To the left, wafer-like circles of different colors appear to be dancing in the air. The viewer cannot see that they are reflections in a mirror placed to the left side of the tree. A red light in the tree illuminates much of one branch.]