Light Shine

We all know the story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Helen, having the hardship of being blind and deaf. And Anne, having the challenge of teaching her to communicate. I can't even imagine what each of them went through. Helen had to be so afraid, frustrated; a huge world of unknown. Anne, trying over and over and over again, to try and help Helen understand that everything and everyone has a name. Then the miracle happened, when Anne was signing letters into Helen's hands while running water over them. She repeated this over and over. And then all of a sudden... it connected. The light came on, Helen understood, and wanted Anne to spell everything for her. What a beautiful sight that must have been. The light turned on, the light broke her darkness.

Fr. Cliff Stevens, told us this story at Mass, and he related it to Jesus being our light. Jesus is the light in our darkness. And we are here to help spread the light of Jesus to all those around us. I think that is especially done this season of Advent/Christmas. So much giving all around. It's such a special act to see and take part in.  Whether one is able to do something big, as donating a large amount of money or items to a family or a charity, to having one's work adopt a family for Christmas, to inviting someone into your house to live for awhile, to giving a stranger a ride in your car in the snow and cold, to something so little as putting one's change in the red Salvation Army buckets, or even just holding the door open for a stranger or sharing a smile. You see, there are so many ways to share the light Jesus gives.
Something I recently read from an Advent reflection, talked about trying to "ransom the captive" in our lives. Many people in our life could be held "captive"... in simple ways that we may not think is big, such as loneliness or sadness, to big things as not having enough food, no transportation, no home to go to. What can we do to help ransom the captive in our lives...  Take a moment to visit them? Make them a meal? Send a card to show them you are thinking of them? Help them get to their appointment they need?

But the one thing that really stuck out to me, in talking about light and darkness... was Fr mentioned that we all have our own darkness in our lives, that may be hurting the relationship we have with Jesus and others. Advent is a time to help prepare our hearts, our minds to encounter Jesus at Christmas. It's a time to understand more the mercy Jesus has for us. As Fr Stevens said, "Maybe it's time to let a little bit of light shine into what might be your darkness."