The Light in the Darkness: Finding Hope in the Season of Long Nights

The theme for the next five weeks is Incarnation and Mystery. Hang on while we take a deep dive into the mystical.

St. John of the Cross penned the phrase, “Dark night of the soul,” which has come to represent a season in which the soul feels unanchored and adrift in a tempest. It feels as though the foundation of your life has been ripped out from under you, leaving only rubble behind. There are more questions than answers, and every path is cloaked in confusion. You need to hear God’s voice, but God is silent. These are long nights, periods of endless darkness.

Yet, we know the sun rises every morning. Light always follows darkness, and if we hold on long enough, dawn will arrive. 2,800 years ago, the prophet Isaiah looked forward to the light dawning: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).

This yearning for hope and victory, symbolized by light overcoming darkness, is shared across cultures and religions. For Jews, it is Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights.” For Iranians, the ancient Persian festival of Yalda marks the victory of the rising daylight after the longest night of the year. Hindus celebrate Diwali, and Buddhists commemorate Bodhi. For Christians, it arrives with Christmas.

Christmas is the celebration of Light entering the world of darkness—not as a blinding blaze, but as a humble child, a flicker of divine light in a dim stable. A star guiding wandering seekers. A presence illuminating the hearts of all who dare to hope again. John’s Gospel captures this cosmic hope in a single breathtaking sentence: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

What we see in Jesus is the pure light of God, a beacon that draws us in and enlightens our hearts with the love of God. “Whoever follows me,” Jesus said, “will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

The message of Christmas is one of hope for all people – there is a Light in the darkness and the Light overcomes the darkness.

Enter this holy season in AWE.

Aware. Become aware of the Light, the Presence of Christ—around you, within you, and for you.
Wonder. Be astonished that the Light is eternally present, even in the darkness.
Experience. Let the Light penetrate your darkness.

When your own night feels long, remember: even the smallest light ruins the darkness—and the Light that comes from God can never be extinguished.

(First Light, by author with ChatGPT, 2025)

• Thomas Merton: “In the darkness, we discover the light of God’s presence more clearly.” (Thoughts in Solitude)
• Rumi: “Do not despair. The moon in the darkness is proof that light persists.” (The Essential Rumi)
• Tao Te Ching 58: “In the darkest places, the light is born; the wise know that every shadow has its source in the light.”
• John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• St. John of the Cross: “Hope is the star that guides the soul through the dark night.” (The Dark Night of the Soul)
• Henri Nouwen: “Hope is not about waiting for the darkness to pass but trusting that the light is already there.” (The Wounded Healer)
• Rumi: “When the soul is in darkness, remember that the dawn is always near.” (The Essential Rumi)
• Rig Veda 10.37.1: “Even in darkness, the flame of the Eternal burns brightly within the soul.”Romans 8:24-25: “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• St. Teresa of Ávila: “God is present even in the shadows, guiding the soul toward His light.” (Interior Castle)
• Simone Weil: “The shadow is a reminder of the light; it calls us to seek the Eternal.” (Gravity and Grace)
• Walt Whitman: “Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” (Leaves of Grass)
• Rumi: “The shadow proves the presence of the sun. Do not fear it, but let it lead you to the light.” (The Essential Rumi)
• The Upanishads 2.2.10: “The Eternal is the light within, guiding the soul beyond the shadows.”Isaiah 42:16: “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• St. Francis of Assisi: “Where there is darkness, let me bring light.” (The Prayer of St. Francis)
• Tagore: “The light of faith is stronger than any darkness.” (Gitanjali)
• Rumi: “A single candle defeats the darkness; be that candle for the world.” (The Essential Rumi)
• Bhagavad Gita 5:16: “When wisdom’s light shines, it dispels ignorance like the sun dispels night.”Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• St. Irenaeus: “The Eternal light of God shines through all creation, guiding us toward Him.” (Against Heresies)
• Maximus the Confessor: “In the light of Christ, all shadows are dispelled, and the soul is made whole.” (Ambigua to John)
• Desmond Tutu: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” (The Book of Joy)
• Zend-Avesta, Yasna 34.6: “The light of the Creator is eternal, illuminating all that is.”Revelation 22:5: “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• Thomas Merton: “In the darkness, we discover the light of God’s presence more clearly.” (Thoughts in Solitude)
• Henri Nouwen: “Hope is not about waiting for the darkness to pass but trusting that the light is already there.” (The Wounded Healer)
• The Upanishads 2.2.10: “The Eternal is the light within, guiding the soul beyond the shadows.”
• Rumi: “A single candle defeats the darkness; be that candle for the world.” (The Essential Rumi)
• Maximus the Confessor: “In the light of Christ, all shadows are dispelled, and the soul is made whole.” (Ambigua to John)Revelation 22:5: “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?