More Light

I know it’s not just in my head – not anymore.
At first, in late December, it probably was my imagination.
Because I knew that it must be true, despite the lack of discernible evidence.
But now I can notice it, I can see it with my own eyes.
Maybe you can, too.

The days are getting longer.

For many weeks our 24-hour days have been marked by more darkness than daylight. But the night is beginning to recede. I couldn’t tell in those days right after December 21, the winter solstice, but now I can. The daylight greets us a little sooner every morning and stays with us a little later each afternoon. Light is growing in our world and everyday will progressively push the shadows of night aside.

We experience many different kinds of darkness in our lives – pain, illness, loss, grief, loneliness, anxiety, fear, sadness…and tragedy. Sometimes the darkness is so thick we have no reason to hope.

For the people of Haiti and for all those connected to them, January 12 was a terribly dark day. The sun seemed to vanish on that Tuesday at 4:53pm in Haiti. And still the darkness overpowers the light.

It’s too early to see the light in this horrible disaster. We have little evidence of it. But we have faith, and so we trust and pray that light is growing in Haiti. Maybe our prayers and generosity can speed the return of light and hope.

May Christ, the light of all people, ever be on the increase in our hearts, communities, and world.