I’m so glad … for the promise of light.
By the time most folks read this, the winter solstice will have occurred (unless you’re in the southern hemisphere, in which case hello! and happy summer solstice) — I’m told the solstice happens at 4:02 a.m. CST this Monday, Dec. 21, 2020.
Up until this morning, the amount of sunlight reaching us northerners has been decreasing by increments every day, until there is a mere 7 hours, 48 minutes between sunrise and sunset.
Humans need light. It’s no fun when the sun is illuminating our lives less than one-third of the time.
That’s why I’m so glad for the winter solstice. Starting today, the amount of sunlight will be INCREASING by increments every day.
Oh, sure, it’s going to get colder and snowier for a while. But slowly and surely, we’ll have more light to navigate the winter, day by day.
I think that’s why Christians chose this time of year to celebrate the birth of someone who was to bring light to a dark world: because it’s literally going to get brighter from now on.
Every December we have the solace of solstice: No matter how dark everything may seem right now, from now on every day will bring just a little more light, until that magic day in June when the sun is shining almost two-thirds of the time.
Then we’ll have that bittersweet season when it’s warm and comfortable outside but slowly getting darker, but the shorter days are a gentle reminder to prepare for the coming cold months.
And then we’ll be back at a day like this one, when light is a precious commodity.
But be assured: More light is coming.