The world seems a little dark right now.

Literally and figuratively.

The Winter Solstice is on December 21st. It is the shortest day of the year, meaning that it has the least amount of light and the most darkness.

And then, there’s just a lot going on in the world right now. Between election kerfuffles and protests and a pandemic and…everything else. It’s a lot of hurt. And hate.

Like I said, the world seems a little dark right now.

That’s going to change, though. After the Winter Solstice, the days will gradually get longer. The light will grow. It will get stronger. And before we know it, the sun will stream through our windows to wake us up in the morning and we’ll bask in the light long into the night. Darkness won’t seem so strong or powerful or scary.

I don’t know how the rest of the world will respond. There’s no promise that change in sunlight will get rid of hurt or hate. In fact, it probably won’t have much of an effect.

But if we focus on the permeating darkness of the world, then we’ll miss the light that is being revealed through nature. We’ll miss the kindness that this season brings out in our neighbors. We’ll miss laughter over snowflakes and we’ll miss the spark of joy in a child’s eyes as they stare at twinkling icicle lights. We’ll miss the anticipation that comes with opening gifts and giving gifts…and the hope that comes with knowing that something new is ahead.

This darkness has been dark. But it can’t last forever.

The light shines out of the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5