Winter solstice winter solstice winter solstice. To me, it’s the most magical day of the year—the longest night pierced by the greatest light. For to find ourselves in such looming darkness we require extraordinary light. Miracles, in fact. Early Christians decided to celebrate Jesus’ birthday this time of year not just to override the pagans (boo) but because now—when the sun shines so seldom, when the earth is so barren—we must be most pregnant with faith. It is the same faith that kept the oil burning for eight days for the Jewish holiday of Chanukah. And it is the same faith that reminds us love can subsume any black hole. Here at this turning point of the year and of our country, on this hardest and holiest of days, we are in the most dire need of faith. We must listen, we must light, and we must love.
Winter solstice winter solstice winter solstice. To me, it’s the most magical day of the year—the longest night pierced by the greatest light. For to find ourselves in such looming darkness we require extraordinary light. Miracles, in fact. Early Christians decided to celebrate Jesus’ birthday this time of year not just to override the pagans (boo) but because now—when the sun shines so seldom, when the earth is so barren—we must be most pregnant with faith. It is the same faith that kept the oil burning for eight days for the Jewish holiday of Chanukah. And it is the same faith that reminds us love can subsume any black hole. Here at this turning point of the year and of our country, on this hardest and holiest of days, we are in the most dire need of faith. We must listen, we must light, and we must love.