As the days grow dark, I believe we humans have a deep need to respond with warmth and light and hope and have for likely more than 10,000 years especially in northern climates. This is so strong a need that Jesus’ birth was placed on the winter solstice in the old Roman calendar which was Dec 25th. With a new calendar, the 25th struck for the Jesus story and the solstice accurately became the 21st. And Judaism emphasizes the menorah story perhaps also to celebrate light and hope for a better world even as the dark lasts longer.
If we take the larger perspective of our life on this rare and precious planet in the northern hemisphere, our humanity can join in the many ways to call forth our inner and the outward light. ~Blessings be. ~Marye Gail Harrison, Chair of Spiritual Life, USH Board