Season Of Light

I t's barely a month until the Winter Solstice when the shortest day of the year is upon us in the northern hemisphere. From late afternoon to morning, we're wrapped in the darkness of night. Often, the days too are darker than usual, given to grim tempestuous weather that drives us inside.

So why do we welcome this time of year as the Season of Light?

For Christians, it's about the birth of Jesus bringing light into the world. For Jews, it's about Hannukah - the Festival of Lights. For African Americans, it's Kwanzaa, the tradition of gift giving. For Buddhists, it's Bodhi Day that commemorates the day Siddhartha Gautauma experienced enlightenment. For Zuni and Hopi Indians, it's Soyal, the solstice ritual to bring the sun back from its long winter slumber.

No matter your ancestry or religion or beliefs, there's something special about the Season of Light for everybody. Or at least you can make sure there is.

The absence of light reinforces its presence. With the day dimmed outside, it's easier to see the light inside. It's like that warm glow behind the window of your neighbor's farm house in the hol- low.

In our valley, the Season of Light begins with the Luminaria in Waitsburg and the glow of the Commercial Club lights on the build- ings on Main Street.

This year's Luminaria celebration (though not its spirit) was dampened by the gale-force winds blowing through the region this week. Organizers Allison Bond and Bruce Donohue called off their second-year sidewalk display of paper bag luminaria on Main Street for obvious safety reasons.

The winds were so strong Monday night it knocked the power out in Columbia County. Perhaps, the Luminaria can be expanded to Dayton next year in a symbolic extension of the neighborly oc- casion across the valley - a warm up for Christmas Kickoff and Hometown Christmas events around the turn of the month.

Of course the candle bags, electric lights and Christmas parades are merely physical manifestations of the Season of Light. The real flame comes from within.

Bond, whose Luminaria is meant as an invitation to walk and talk with neighbors "before the season gets going and you're too busy," said she was heartened by the many phone calls and visits she received from residents before dusk on Monday.

"Even with the inclement weather, we had a pretty nice turnout," she said. And, she sold out of soup.

In the early evening, the sidewalks dotted with rain drops instead of lighted candle bags, a handful of enthusiasts still made it down to Coppei Coffee Co. to hear three young musicians light up their instruments with bluegrass classics: Emma Philbrook, Chris Phil- brook and Sam McGowen.

The doors at the Town Hall were open too for a while. Musing about the meaning of the Season of Light during Luminaria, Commercial Club chair Joy Smith said she has been encouraged by an increase in local shoppers at her store "Hugs, Gifts & Collectibles" and wishes the same surge in traffic upon her fellow merchants in town.

"That would be my light," she said, pointing out that these down home spending trends boom rang in the form of taxes and other support in the community. "Spread your light in Waitsburg. It saves your bacon (as a retailer). It's the light at the end of the tunnel."

Community volunteer Rose Engelbrite hopes everyone's inner light will also shine on the many families in need this season - those without work, those with loved ones in the service and so on.

"We need to remember there's a light within everyone, including those who aren't as well off," she said. "A lot of people are suffering right now. There's a lot of need."

Since the summer, the number of families seeking help from the community has grown steadily and neighbors can support them through the churches' Christmas gift baskets or the Waitsburg Resource Center or by simply reaching out to them, she suggested. "Just talk to them."

Yeah, just talk to them, talk to anyone. Take a moment to talk to the kids who walk home from school or the elderly residents who collect their mail at the post office or the young mother whose hus- band serves overseas.

Celebrate the Season of Light: step outside yourself and let your light shine.