Happy New Year!

This is one of my favorite photos from the year, so I want to share it with all of you who read my blog as a small thank you for your support. It was taken from the back patio of my friends’, Ann and Rick, house. Many thanks to all of my friends who are so dear.

I also chose this photo for its quality of light. In reflecting on the winter holy day(s) season, I am reminded that all of the winter holy days are in some regard related to light. The season, to me, reflects on light as a focus for hope; hope for ourselves, for our community, and our world. Hope for the future. The nature of this hope is that things will get better, improve; better for the individual, the community, the world: the future.

The second aspect that I see inherent in the holy days this time of year is that there is some effort required, some sacrifice to make, even if it is “only” in the form of trust or believing (faith?). We are to give something of ourself, of our community, in order that growth of the light and hope may come to pass.

Thirdly is rememberance, looking back to when something important, something miraculous, happened. We are asked to remember what sacrifices were made in the past and the hope of our forebearers and those things that have brought us to where we are now, as individuals, community, and world. We are their future.

I wish for each of you, my readers, and everyone else too, these aspects of the season: Light to fuel Hope; Willingness to take action toward that perpetuating that Hope; and the Memory of what our ancestors hoped for and believed in for all of us: Hope for the Future, for individuals, communities, World. And the memory that we are all here together, hoping for all of us.

May the Peace and Beauty, Love and Hope, Sacrifice and Memory, of the season be with you today, all year, and into the Future.