Festival of Lights

Tonight is the start of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. The festival celebrates the rededication of the second temple in Jerusalem from before the time of Jesus' birth. I love that it occurs during the season of advent, where we are in a time of 'darkness' as we remember the people waiting for the arrival of Jesus the first time, and as we wait for his return now. In a year that has felt so dark, I have been noticing areas and things that bring light. I also love that the festival occurs in early December when we are approaching the longest day of darkness here in the northern hemisphere. 

What the light has shown me this year is what Jesus taught- the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. What is true is that it can be really dark, like in Mammoth cave turn out the lights pitch blackness, but the smallest amount of light can change that. Our eyes adjust to the amount of light, not the amount of dark. Darkness is not its own thing, it is simply the absence of light. And the darker it is, the brighter the light appears. 

The darkness does not overcome the light, the only way to make a place dark is remove light. In John 8:12 Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” As we await Christmas and the celebration of Jesus' first arrival as a human to earth, let us not forget to follow him and have the light we need in these dark times. I am grateful for the earthly understanding of light so that we can understand the spiritual realm of light and darkness. The festival of lights being celebrated now is leading up to the coming of the true light of the world. 

#Advent #FestivalOfLights