“Your life is something opaque, not transparent, as long as you look at it in an ordinary human way. But if you hold it up against the light of God’s goodness, it shines & turns transparent, radiant and bright. And then you ask yourself in amazement: Is this really my own life I see before me?”
– Albert Schweitzer
As we enter this sacred month with the observance of both Hanukkah and Christmas, I am taking an intentional “time out” to mindfully sit in the silence and reflect upon the significance of Light. Perhaps it is by no coincidence that the Winter Solstice begins on Friday, December 21, marking the shortest day of the year and the longest night. Throughout history people have celebrated the solstice because it signified the coming of the light—it held the promise that, as dark as things might appear at the moment, each new day the light would reveal more of itself, making way for longer days and shorter nights and the warmth of the coming season of growth and new life.
While many may see the solstice as a secular event, the spiritual relevance and metaphor is equally important. The presence of light seems to bring a sense of hope, confidence and renewal to the human spirit. From a spiritual perspective when we capitalize the letter “L” in the word Light it becomes sacred, another name for God, Infinite Presence, The Beloved, The Christ, The Father, Jehovah, Elohim, Brahman, or whatever name you may hold as sacred.
With this in mind, may this season be about remembering the relationship between ourselves and the Creator and that the presence of Light signifies the unifying factor respective of the spiritual traditions we may honor. Light dispels darkness; it heals the sense of separation between ourselves and the Divine. Ralph Waldo Emerson summarized this idea beautifully when he wrote, “From within or from behind, a light shines through us upon things, and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is all.”
Whether we are celebrating the miracle of Light at the center of the Hanukkah celebration, or the miracle birth of the man named Jesus who so fully embodied the Light that he demonstrated his oneness with the Fathe, Light has long been a symbol for the eternal Presence of God manifesting as Love, Faith, Wisdom, Courage, Forgiveness, Strength and Peace.
A remembrance of Infinite Presence in our lives becomes the motivating factor that results in actions of loving-kindness, compassion, authentic power, gratitude and generosity of spirit. In this amazing Season of Light we are each given ample opportunities to be the reflectors of that Light by simply remembering who we are and why we’ve come to the planet.
It is in the spirit of this remembrance I say:
- May you take time to focus on what matters most in your chosen spiritual tradition and honor it with the sacred intention of your time and attention.
- May you have ample opportunities to witness the Divine birth of Love in the world each time you see the Light of the Beloved in the eyes of others, regardless of the spiritual path they have chosen.
- May you be the Light that defuses the darkness in the lives of those who are isolated in the shadows of their own personal struggles
- May the sacredness of this Season of Light illumine your way, allowing you to fully see and use the gift of your life in a manner that honors the giver of the gift.
- May you always remember you are the Light of the world and the world greatly needs the Light you bring.
- May you fully realize and embrace how loved you truly are by those around you as well as the Infinite One, and
- May the peace that passes all understanding reside in your heart in this Season of Light and forever therein live.
While I have only had the pleasure and privilege of writing my column for the Paradise News for the past few months I feel very connected to this wonderful community. Know that I wish you and yours the most meaningful Season of Light you’ve ever known.
With Peace, Dennis Merritt Jones www.DennisMerrittJones.com