Let There Be Light!
“For though my faith is not yours and your faith
is not mine, if we are each free to light our own flame,
together we can banish some of the darkness of the world.”
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
It’s Hard to Write a Holiday Message
With so much violence around us. Refugees fleeing from violence, gunmen visiting violence upon innocents in this country, and the growing violence in our political rhetoric.
It Feels Dark
Of course it actually is dark, as we move towards the shortest day of the year. But the winter solstice (on December 22nd) is also a celebration as we shift again towards longer days and more light. Between night and day, darkness and light, I think our souls have a natural yearning for the light. I want to believe that about humanity.
Lighting Our Own Flame
The quote at the top was shared by a friend on social media. I love it. The writer is a British Rabbi, and the website that posted the quote had an unusual name. So I clicked on it. Surprise! The organization is in Montreal, on the same street where I grew up, three blocks from our old house.
A Flood Of Memories
This got me thinking about my late Father, who was no Rabbi, but had a lot of wisdom. Daddy was not a fan of organized religion, saying that more violence had been perpetrated through the ages in the name of God than for any other reason. When I asked why he had remained a member of our synagogue, he responded with a smile and a shrug, “Maybe it isn’t such a bad idea to hedge your bets.” Remembering this makes me smile, and my flame feels a little brighter.
Our Personal Choices
How lucky we are to enjoy the freedom of lighting our own flames through our communications: what we say, what we do, and how we show up. There is much strength in shining our personal light into the world.
Thank you for being part of my community. From my house to yours, I wish you joy and health and glorious, radiant light in the New Year ahead!
Shine on…