Darkness and Light

At this time of year when we have more dark than light and at this time in history when darkness seems to be prevailing in the world, what is our calling? 
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The Winter Solstice will begin on Friday December 21st at 4:22 PM Central time.  This will be the longest night of the year.  Throughout the world and through ancient and modern times, this has been a cause for reflection and celebration.  It has been a time of joyful anticipation and a celebration of light amidst a prevailing darkness.  I would like to share with you a real-life example of the celebration of light against darkness.

As I drive on Burleigh Street to attend Sunday Quaker Meeting, I have passed this particular house numerous times.  It would be more accurate to say that I have ignored this house, because my eyes have always been focused elsewhere.  But on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the homeowner placed large, red Christmas bows on the chain-link fence surrounding the property; one bow on each fence post in the front yard.  The bright red bows drew my attention to the house from a block away.  This is a typical Milwaukee bungalow, nicely maintained with a four-foot chain-link fence in front and a bird bath in the yard. 

There are two reasons why I haven’t noticed this house before.  The first is that this stretch of Burleigh Street is poorly maintained and I keep my eyes on the road in order to avoid the washboard like dips and bumps on the street.  The other reason I’ve ignored this home is because directly across the street from it are three hulking, vacant, burnt-out duplexes that stretch from the middle of the block to the corner.  One of these three houses has fire damage and I can see the sky through the rafters of the roof. 

So, as I drive this section of Burleigh Street my eyes are on the road in order to protect my car from damage and then they are on these massive eyesores.  These derelict duplexes sit on this block like a black hole in space, sucking up all the light and energy around.  I think about the homeowner with the bows on the fence.  As they walk out their front door, the dilapidated duplexes are right in front of them.  I imagine that these duplexes are what the homeowners see as they sit in their living room and look out their window.

To me, the bungalow homeowner with the red bows in the front yard is making a choice.  She or he or they are choosing to celebrate the light and refuse to let the darkness on their street prevail.  They are saying that at this time, on this block, these people are determined to not only seek the light when confronted with darkness, but they have chosen to be the light on their little corner of the world. God bless them.

Lord knows there is plenty of darkness in the world.  Just since Thanksgiving we have seen:

• Russia capture three Ukrainian boats and 23 Ukrainian sailors in the Kerch Strait leading to the Black Sea, increasing the fear of war in the region.
• America tear-gas men, women and children as thousands seek asylum at the border
• A consortium of 13 federal agencies release a report on the impending human and economic costs of unabated climate change.
•  GM announce that it is closing seven plants in North America, jeopardizing nearly 14,000 jobs.

At this time of year when we have more dark than light and at this time in history when darkness seems to be prevailing in the world, what is our calling? 
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For me, I want to be like that homeowner who lives on a deteriorating section of Burleigh Street across from three burned out wrecks.  I want to be proud of fixing up my part of the world and I want to put out red ribbons to declare to all that light and goodness will prevail. 

And so, here is my prayer:

Lord,

• Help me to be kind, even when kindness, gentleness, and goodness aren’t my first thoughts
• Help me to find joy when those surrounding me are dour and hateful, and when I may be tired and frustrated
• Help me to be patient with those who don’t think or act like me or agree with me
• Help me to be courageous in my work for justice
• Lord, help me to remember that I can’t save the world, but I can be a simple red ribbon-a small symbol of hope in a sometimes bleak and weary place.

Amen