I’m still not accustomed to late afternoon feeling like night. With the darkness come thoughts of sleep but then I realize it’s only dinner time. How about you?
It’s the time of year when darkness seems to rule, at least on the outside. How are we doing on the inside? Stressed? Anxious? Worried? Angry? If yes, even a little bit, then let’s shine a light on our inside, too. The 7 ways are perfect for little ones or bigger ones like you and me.
Let “the light shine in the darkness, and (see how) the darkness does not overcome it.”
7 Ways to Light up the Darkness
First idea
Why not turn off all the lights in every space and sit in the darkness for a short time until your eyes adjust. Can you see anything? Perhaps you’ll notice where light does shine in odd places. Then light one candle and notice how bright that candle is. It surely has overcome the darkness.
Second idea
Go for part or all of a day without using electricity, which is what usually gives us light. But without using any item which uses electricity, going to an earlier time when people were afraid of night because of the absolute darkness that reigned. (That’s why vesper services at church began—to reassure us that we would be safe through the dark night and the light would indeed return in the morning.)
Third
When you’re back to using electricity and the library or internet or perhaps your bookshelves, look up traditions which use candles during this time of year. For starters, there’s:
· Advent · Diwali · Hanukkah · Christmas · Kwanzaa · Eid al-Fitr · Imbolc or Brigid’s Day · St. Lucia (Lucy) Day.
Another one
Make an Advent wreath—of branches and candles; or paper candles on a wall, ‘lighting’ a candle with a paper flame each evening—and use it to count down the dark days until Christmas and the winter solstice, after which the daylight begins to lengthen.
Fifth
Take time to be in a spirit of gratitude as you name all the ways light shines in the darkness—lighting up your physical, exterior spaces and world, as well as lighting up your interior physical, mental, emotional and spiritual space.
Sixth
The darkness offers us a time of rest, as many of us sleep during the darkest time of day. How might you rest more—during the day, too? Why not put up your feet, put on calming music or a pot of tea now--even if only for ten minutes.
Last--for now
Reflect on how you could be light to others. Maybe even, like St. Nicholas on his feast day December 6, you act but don’t let them know.
Bring the light of your presence.....to a friend, someone who is seriously ill, or an aging family member.
Each moment shared becomes a gift of comfort and connection, and in doing so, you also prepare your heart for the years ahead.
A gift for you
Not sure how to be, what to say, what to do? My award-winning and #1 Amazon bestselling book, The Courage to Care: Being Fully Present with the Dying, offers stories, strategies and songs to show you the way to being a compassionate, supportive friend who lightens the day or night..
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Comment or email me and let me know what you did to bring light to another person. I'll let you know what I chose to do and how it went.
Happy Advent! Happy Solstice! Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas! Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy happy every day!
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