All the festivals and traditions we observe at this time of year have to do with light. But it is more than the return of the sun that we celebrate. The Magical Miracle of Light opens the door of our awareness to a reality beyond our physical world.

The stars in the Wabanaki poem (p. 8) sing with their light as they fly over the sky making a magic road for the spirits to pass over. The holy light in the temple in Jerusalem miraculously continued to burn, telling the Jewish people in a time of darkness that surely God was with them. The miracle that God would incarnate as a human being, the "Light of the World," to open a path to greater realms assures Christians of a source of Love greater than this world.

And what about the magic of Santa Claus? Even in its contemporary excess, I wonder if it may give children an experience of miracle and faith that can open them to other spiritual experiences later in life. We took our train-loving son to see the movie, The Polar Express, and toward the end of the film I had an epiphany of sorts about the nature of faith. Only those who believe can hear the bells and perceive the magic. What a metaphor! When the spiritual eyes are open, where there is faith, the Magic that is there all the time can be perceived. The eyes may close at times, but can always open again - at the birth of a baby, the light of a candle, the gift of love, the wonder of a starry night.

The festivals of Light remind us of a spiritual reality beyond our mundane existence, that we are loved and cared for by some greater power, and that we must each cultivate our own inner light and shine it out into the world.

Have a Light-filled holiday!

Heather Holm

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P.S. Thanks to all the contributors and to Bev Lamb for helping with this edition of the newsletter.