When it gets dark, share light

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn't extinguish the light." John 1:5 Common English Bible

I grew up in a violent, alcoholic home. I remember dreading the holidays. More drinking. More fighting. My hand-made ornaments lying broken in the street as the tree was thrown out of the house. The literal darkening of the days was compounded by this other darkness. I think this was one of the reasons I needed the Advent season--the focus was on light.

As an adult looking back, I can see now how the Advent practices of the church I grew up in shaped my spirit with hopeful expectation. Each week we'd light one candle, then add another and another each week over the four weeks before Christmas, until on that day, we'd light the biggest brightest candle, the Christ candle. The darkness didn't seem so heavy anymore.

The gradual growing of the light spoke to my soul in ways I only understand now. The light reminded me that the darkness would not prevail--no matter how strong and oppressive it seemed. Goodness and light would win out at the end of the day. Healing and peace would come, even if I couldn't see it yet.

We sure need this good news this year. The darkness seems immeasurably heavy and thick. I know there are many in our community who dread this time of year, like I used to. Once it starts getting darker outside, that anxiety and fear of what other kinds of darkness might come is palpable. For many of us, it's probably worse this year--with COVID-19 there's more isolation, more uncertainties, more anger and frustration. The darkness seems overwhelming.

"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness doesn't extinguish the light" (John 1:5). In John, Jesus is called the Light of the World. While this means many things, it most certainly means that darkness does not win.

The thing is, though, Jesus also calls the Church the Light of the World (Matthew 5:14). We partner with Jesus to share light. The more light we share, the less powerful the darkness is. This is true both literally and metaphorically. It's what our souls need right now.

We literally share light by putting up lights and lighting candles and luminaries. We help our neighbors and friends put up lights at their houses and businesses. These are communal acts of darkness defiance. We metaphorically share light by loving one another in real tangible ways. The one opens the door for the other.

These symbols and traditions of Advent play upon our imaginations in meaningful ways. "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not extinguish the light." How are we being called as a community to share more light and hope this year? Perhaps with those who are lonely and isolated? With law enforcement, emergency personnel and essential workers? Let's pay attention and share the light. We need it this year more than ever.