Solstice
Eve
“At
times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another
person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those
who have lighted the flame within us.”
Albert
Schweitzer
Today
is the eve of the Winter Solstice. After tomorrow, the darkness of
winter begins to recede, and each day extends the light a bit longer.
It's a good time to think about light in general, and who in our
lifetime has given us light when we were in our darkest days. Mrs.
Kidd, my high school English Literature teacher, comes to mind for
me. When I was a senior, with the self-confidence of a beetle-bug,
she said to me, “You are the only student I have in this class! I
see your eyes light up when we're reading this stuff. If you aren't
with me, then I may as well not be here!” No one had ever said
anything of the sort to me. In that moment, with those words, I
turned a corner. I saw the light. I am grateful for Mrs. Kidd today,
fifty years later.
Jesus
said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop
that cannot be hidden.” (Matt. 5:4) We are to be beacons of light
in a hurting world—all of us, without exception. We cannot use our
low self-esteem, or our disbelief, or our busy life to hide our
light. We cannot use the unfortunate circumstances of our birth, or
our DNA to say we are not responsible for providing light to one
another. In the words of Mary Dunbar, “We are each gifted in a
unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to
discover our own special light.”
If
your light is burning low, allow someone else the sacred opportunity
of sparking a new flame within you. In these days of darkness, having
the light within is critical to seeing the light without. That inner
spark shines its way through to light not only your own path, but
that of other travelers who will see you and follow. It is your
privilege, and your adventure to rekindle their flames as well.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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