I know that winter’s coming, with Christmas on its heels, when I turn on the bike light attached to the top of my dog’s harness. Every morning, Sonia and I wake up at 5:30 a.m. for an off-leash romp in our neighborhood park before I head to work. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the days get shorter in the latter half of the calendar year. I can see it happening slowly at first. Dawn is just a touch grayer and murkier with each passing day, like painting in watercolor without cleaning your brush in between strokes. Then, almost suddenly, we are immersed in darkness, and to see my black-furred dog in the dark, I must turn on her little red bike light beacon.
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Advent is timed well with these darkening days. However, it is also during this time that people can feel sad and alone. Many folks experience seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression correlated with the lack of light. And on top of all that, we must also contend with another darkness: the brokenness of our world and within ourselves. But God does not want us to despair. He wants to build us up in the strength of hope. So, how can we embrace these darkening days by kindling the light within ourselves? Just as Sonia has a little red light emanating from her, so, too, do we all have a light within us to shine forth for others to witness. Here are some ways we can fan that flame.
Spend time in reflection. Advent, a period of waiting for Christ’s luminous arrival, invites us to reflect on our approach to our Lord. We can use this period of darkness to really dig deep and kindle our interior flames, to ensure that we burn brighter than ever.
The Old Testament shows us how we can do so: “For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light” (Proverbs 6:23). During Advent, we can make time for Scripture – to read it, sit with it, and reflect on its wisdom and how we can apply it in our daily lives. Guided journals, or simply rereading the Sunday and daily Scripture passages can help. We can do this in the morning, during our lunch breaks, or before bedtime. I enjoy curling up in bed with a cup of tea (or a glass of wine) and seeing what word or phrase from the readings strikes me, whether as a way to reflect upon my day, or as an anchor for the day ahead. Turning to sacred Scripture on a regular basis nourishes our souls and deepens our friendship and love of our Lord. God’s teachings are the spark that can kindle our internal flames.
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We can also use Advent as an opportunity to directly speak with God and tell him whatever is on our hearts and minds. Walking Sonia in the dark, for instance, makes me feel more focused and more alive. I have to be more alert of my surroundings. When I walk in the morning darkness, I can feel the Lord walking with me. I take this time to speak directly to him about all the concerns and desires of my heart. I ask him to grace me with hope, peace, joy, and love, the four candles of Advent, so that I can, as Isaiah says, “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight…a highway for our God” to my heart.
Embrace community. During our morning sessions, Sonia and I see our other early riser friends. There are dogs she gravitates to, and as they greet each other and play, I have warm conversations with my human companions. We call ourselves the “Sunrise Crew.” We make small talk and serious talk. Everything is open to discussion. By sticking consistently to our routine and by opening our hearts to new friends, we build a small, dependable community of companionship.
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Having community, even if it’s just for a brief “good morning,” makes me feel connected to something greater than myself. I feel like I am contributing to the kingdom that God wants us to build: One founded on love, warmth, and trust. During Advent, and especially during these darkening days, it’s important to feel like we’re not alone. It’s a good idea to find community and cultivate it. It could be in your parish where there may be Advent recollections or other prayer groups. We can also use social media to our advantage: There are many prayers groups, circles, and Advent reflection communities that we can join. And at the end of the day, many of us also have a built-in community right at home: Cultivating our loving relationships with our family and friends helps to kindle our light and to spread that light to others. Jesus tells us that “your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16). Let’s find opportunities to shine this light for others to witness and set their own hearts ablaze.
When I’m out early in the morning with Sonia, I notice that there are still points of light in the darkness – the moon, the stars, the streetlamps, lights shining from people’s apartments. Even in the darkness, there is light. There is hope. We, too, can be a point of light in a dark world – by remembering that the Lord is our greatest source of light. Let’s rekindle our own inner flames by preparing ourselves during Advent for his coming. As we do so, we can remember that “The night is far gone, the day is near.” We can take on the following charge: “Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).
