Image by Md Abdul Rashid from Pixabay
In the church year, Advent begins the first week of December. We light the symbolic candle of hope. Hope is tough to hang on to in today’s world. The daily news is full of war, death, destruction, murder and hunger. The internet is teaching us that truth is expendable. It feels as if we are living in a culture of blatant lies, exaggerations, doctored images, wild conspiracy theories and fake news. We don’t know what or who to believe.
Yet still as Christians we begin again the story of Jesus, a man who lived over 2000 years ago. Jesus brought and lived such a startling and radical message of love, that he was crucified as a traitor to Rome. His message that living love for all people, his message of forgiveness is still with us today.
We light the hope candle because we believe that love and forgiveness bring light into the darkness of this world. And there is light. I see it every day. These lights seldom become newsworthy but they are there. Lights that shine from the store clerk’s eyes when we actually stop and look at them and tell them “Good Job” and “Thank you.” The light that shone in my heart yesterday when I was shopping and the mom and teenager walking ahead of me held both heavy doors to the shopping centre open for me as I walked through with my cane. The light brightened when I said, “That was very nice. Thank you so much.”
Sometimes the light is a casserole shared with a sick friend, the joy of a family . gathering, the satisfaction of a job well done whether alone or as part of a team. There is light every time we speak to one of our homeless people standing on the street corner, treating them as a person of value. There is light every time someone experiences kindness and love, caring and valuing. There is light also in our natural world. Every time we see a beautiful sunset, listen to the sound of geese flying south, every walk we take. There is light because every good feeling we allow ourselves to have brings light to the world.
I have a friend who is having a grand time going from thrift store to thrift store, buying t-shirts and sweaters that are in the best condition she can find, sometimes even new. These are not for herself or her family. These are part of shipments to people in Canada’s north who need them. My friend Nancy who always hated shopping, delights in her discovered bargains. She takes them home, washes, even irons them. She wants them to be the best they can be. Why? Because there are valuable children who need them. Her efforts will never make “today’s news”. But they sure bring her joy, the children joy and me as I hear her talk of her treasures. She brings light into this world. Nancy is not unusual. There are people everywhere doing wonderful things for others.
During Advent, this time of preparation for Jesus’ birthday, let’s remember and give thanks for all of us who make kindness one of our goals every day. The light of love does shine across our world. We can have “Hope”.