Have you ever been afraid of the dark? As a child, I was terrified of the darkness. It was a special form of torture for me to have to go upstairs at night. I am not sure why there wasn’t a light in the small hallway, but there wasn’t. It was pitch dark until I was able to scurry into my room and find the light. No flashlights in our house.

My grandparents lived in the house next door, but it wasn’t right next door. There was a big lot in between the houses. A nighttime trip from Memere Gouvin’s house to mine was excruciating and would often have me in tears by the time I ran into our kitchen. I didn’t get a lot of sympathy for this irrational fear. As the oldest child, I was expected to lead by example and this type of fear was not a good example.

As I grew in maturity, reality and faith, I overcame this fear. Understanding that the monsters I had created in my imagination were not real and could not harm me, enabled me to put the terror in its place. However, I have never forgotten how that fear paralyzed me and left me helpless.

During the Christmas season, we are filled with images of light overcoming the darkness. It is a promise fulfilled. Our hymns and readings convey this comforting thought. I know that the darkness of night cannot be eliminated entirely. Night and darkness are integral parts of our world.

I also know now that as soon as I call on Jesus for help and comfort, the darkness flees. And, I know that I can be a candle in the darkness. How? I can show the light of Christ in the way I speak to others, the way I act toward others, the way I pray for others.

Is this hard? Yes, sometimes it is. Only God can love unconditionally. It is an absolute that I, in my humanness, can only practice. But, practice I must. Practice we must!

Because, we can bring the light of Christ to the world in all we do. We can knock out fear, hatred and darkness, one person at a time. This is the challenge that we are given — to lead by a good example. To lead by love with Christ as our example.

Always, always remember that God loves you unconditionally!

Terri (originally posted December 2017)