Christmas is upon us. With it has come the snow, short days, and the bitter cold! At the same time, Christmas and December remind many people of our childhoods, family suppers, playing in the snow, and church traditions. There is a lot of joy in these memories. There can also be a lot of sadness in them, especially when the people we鈥檝e shared Christmas with are no longer with us. It is easy to see how, as the days get darker, so do our thoughts.
For me, the importance of Christmas is symbolized by 鈥渓ight鈥�. The beginning of John鈥檚 Gospel tells us that Jesus is the light that 鈥渟hines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.鈥� (Jn. 1:5)
Over the years, I have struggled with anxiety and depression. I have come to learn that John鈥檚 description of Jesus is a promise. No matter how dark the world is, there is always a promise, always a glimmer of hope, that the world will not remain dark. Christmas is a time of the year that helps to realize that the light of Jesus is in the world. The light is pushing back the darkness. We are not alone.
Christmas charity shows how Christ鈥檚 light transforms our world. One local program is Purple Hugs. Purple Hugs collects winter clothes so people unable to buy them at the store can stay warm during the cold winter months. Programs like Purple Hugs help to share Christ鈥檚 light with people in Humboldt.
