I wrote this article at this time last year. It feels appropriate to repeat, what with all the divisiveness and political rancor still front and center. Why not take a break from all of that 'out there' and contemplate the meaning of light - beyond the twinkling festive decorations.

Forgive my laziness - and hope you enjoy again.

What does it mean to be a light in the dark? What is 'darkness' for that matter? Something to fear or avoid? There seems to be an overwhelming sense of darkness in our world today. Look around in the media and find plenty of stories of hate, despair, violence, terrorism, injustice...the list is long.

Maybe there is a different side of darkness that we do not see portrayed in mainstream media. The darkness that calms, restores, nurtures, incubates...the coolness that tempers the heat of brilliance. In this darkest season of the year we celebrate with light. Not a light from outside that invades like a kind of flood...but with a quiet, ever-present candle flame that burns within the darkness. It reminds us that there is always hope. Light can grow - quickly out of control like a forest fire or slowly like a majestic sun rise. The way we tend and temper our flame creates the light we see.  Tend your flame with care. Be a quiet source of warmth in this some times cold world.