Dear Unity Friends,

Years ago, someone gave me a refrigerator magnet for my birthday that said, "Every little candle is one more way you light up the world."  I have kept it on my fridge as a reminder that each year of my life is, in some way, a blessing to others.  As I think about this magnet and its message, I also think about all the candles and lights that are a part of our holiday season.  So much of our celebration this time of year is about the light.

At Unity in Community, we are nearing the end of the Advent season, the "coming" or "arrival" of the Baby Jesus in the traditional sense, the coming of our awareness of our inner Christ in the metaphysical sense.  The journey of Advent is symbolic of our spiritual journey through the experiences of hope, peace, love, and joy when we find and express the essence of Goodness (God-ness) that lies within us.

We light the candle of hope, not only for the hope we hold for our own awakening and rebirth, but also for the expectation that we can be hope.  And the same is true of peace, love, and joy.  It is not enough that we connect with these inner qualities.  To truly experience the beauty of the season, we must become that which we discover, thereby being hope, peace, love, and joy in the world.

The idea that "every little candle is one more way you light up the world" becomes a living motto, demonstrating that when Jesus said, "You are the light of the world," he knew what he was talking about.

We are not merely a reflection of a great light from an external God.  We are the candle itself, burning brightly as a symbol that all promises--- past, present, and future---are manifesting in the now moment.  All yearning for hope, peace, love, and joy is now fulfilled as we each celebrate the way we light up the world!

Happy Holidays,
Rev. Robin