Acknowledging the Dark
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5, NRSV)
On this day, December 21st, in the northern hemisphere we observe the winter solstice. This is the day of the year when there is the shortest period of daylight and what is known as the longest night.
When Christmas was first celebrated, European Christians adopted ancient pagan festivals which celebrate the return of the light following the solstice. Feasts such as Saturnalia (Roman) and Yuletide (Germanic) were adapted to commemorate the birth of Christ.
I have often thought it strange that the date selected for Christmas is a few days after the solstice. And I’ve also wondered about Advent as a time when the light of Christ is coming to the world, but in our part of the world the sunlight recedes as Advent progresses. Whether or not these things were deliberately planned, we have been able to make meaning of them.
The solstice provides a time for churches to celebrate “longest night” or “Blue Christmas” services. These are occasions when space is made those who grieve and struggle to feel the joy of the festive season.
The fact that the natural light is receding gives meaning to the coming of the light of Christ. The prologue to the gospel of John says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5, NRSV) Without darkness, we cannot see the light of Christ.
Whether we celebrate the coming of Christ at this time of year, or we lean into the anticipation of the gradually lengthening days following the solstice, many of us use decorative lights this season.
There are many different preferences regarding Christmas and holiday lights. Some like all white, others prefer multi-colored lights. And some people like to overwhelm every tiny shadow with their brilliant seasonal lights. I prefer the lights that twinkle and shine sparsely in the darkness. Because, I believe that if we do not acknowledge the dark, we will not see the light.
Here is Jan L. Richardson’s blessing for the longest night:
Blessing for the Longest Night
All throughout these months
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory
by touch
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you
even though you cannot
see it coming.You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.—Jan L. Richardson [1]
from The Cure for Sorrow
[1] https://adventdoor.com/2011/12/19/winter-solstice-blessing-for-the-longest-night/