I’ve written before about the darkness so many of us experience during this time of year. Whether it is loneliness, isolation, illness, grief, despair, or mental illness, we are all touched by darkness – either our own or that of a loved one – at some point in our lives.
It feels as though everyone around us is joy-filled and full of Christmas cheer.
But this year, I think about friends who are experiencing deep and profound grief – who are grieving spouses, grieving children, grieving parents, siblings, friends, or the life they had planned. I think about friends in the throes of addiction or struggling with fragile family relationships.
I have friends who are ill, friends who are struggling with challenging diagnoses, and friends who need someone to lift them up, but who fail to ask for it. They fail to share their pain with others … and keep it locked inside.
This longest night prayer service used candles to symbolically light that very darkness.
Candles are beautiful.
There is something about the light that glows so softly that brings me comfort and peace.
John 1:5 says, "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
There will be darkness – and it is OK to grieve, to feel lonely, and to experience suffering, but we are not meant to be there alone. God designed us for the Light – and He is greater than all the darkness.
He designed us for relationship with Him. He craves a relationship with us – which is why he came to us as a baby – to live with us in his humanity and to experience the same suffering and pain that we experience – so that we would know that he fully understands our pain.
We also are meant for earthly relationship.
So, when we are overwhelmed with darkness, seek the Light. Do not be afraid to call out to Jesus, and do not be afraid to call out to a friend or a stranger. You are not alone. Let someone walk this journey with you. Jesus did.
Let that sink in. Jesus, the perfect son of God, accepted help carrying his cross. Together, he and Simon of Cyrene bore the burden and made it more tolerable.
We can help others bear their burdens, too. Seek out your charism. What is it that you do well that shines God’s Light for others?
Are you a person who loves to cook? Do you have the gift of easy conversation? Are you comfortable sitting in the quiet with someone in their despair? Do you remember to pray often for those who have asked for it? Do you smile sincerely when talking with others? Do you jump right in when someone needs physical assistance? Do you know how to fix mechanical problems? Are you able to put your arms around a stranger and sit with them?
Dig deep into your soul and find your charism. Then ask God to give you the courage to use it this season to bring His Light to the darkness.
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