|
“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible” — Christopher Reeve
(Actor and Unitarian Universalist)
Every month, All Peoples makes materials available to facilitate exploring a theological theme. Our December theme asks us to explore Choosing Hope.
We have entered what many refer to as “the season of light”. This phrase generally refers to the winter holiday period when various cultures and religions celebrate with lights, symbolizing hope, renewal, and spiritual significance against the year’s darkest days. It encompasses traditions celebrating miraculous light, ancient winter solstice rituals, and broader themes of joy, wisdom, and overcoming darkness, reflecting a universal human need for warmth and hope during winter.
In essence, the season of light is a multifaceted concept combining festive celebration with deep spiritual meanings, acknowledging the darkest time of year while embracing the promise of warmth, hope, and divine presence.
Our December exploration theme is Choosing Hope. The dominant messages are about hope offering us calm: “The light will return.” “A new day is on its way.” Hope, from this point of view, is a voice that reassures. It’s a welcomed whisper that says, “Yes, the sky may be dark now. Yes, the road you’re on at this moment may be hard but trust me, just over that horizon, there’s a new world waiting for us all.”
This soothing message comes to us as a gift. During dark days, we all get tired. The fruits of our efforts are hard to see. The cold seems to have set in deep. We feel small, and alone. And grief remains present in our lives.
Choosing Hope is a beautiful and needed message. Hope doesn’t just promise us that change will come in the future; it also changes who we are in the present. When we believe that a new day is possible, we don’t just sit down and wait to see what happens. We get up and go out to meet the light and we may feel moved to share the light of hope with others.
But all of this only happens if we listen fully. So maybe the most important question this month is: “Are we listening to everything that hope has to say?”
One of the best ways to explore our monthly theme is to talk about it with people who are close to you. It’s also a great way to develop trust and deepen our relationships! So let’s explore together! Click HERE to access a list of reflection questions. |
