Halfway to the Light

What is it about this time of year that makes me extra reflective? I think it has to do with the abundance of lights. You see them everywhere. People go gaga over lighting anything this time of year: trees, porches, windows. Even our clothes, such things as the notorious holiday sweater, with a blinking reindeer or Santa, seem to be lit up these days.

As we’ve been lighting the Hanukkah lights this week, it especially struck me how light not only is prevalent, but also how it guides in a definitive direction, day by day. Or, in the case of Hanukkah, it guides night by night. We’ve now completed four nights, halfway through this sacred celebration.

And as we’ve lit the candles, said the blessings and tried to keep out cats from setting their whiskers on fire (Gracie, especially, is quite curious about the candles), I’m struck with the hope of gaining more momentum with the Light.

This time of year, it’s overwhelming to those of us dealing with eating disorder patterns; we’re inundated with so many food choices, all seemingly the staple of any holiday celebration. Food does seem to be everywhere now; a lot of it can also be our “trigger/comfort foods” as well. That, coupled by the extreme stressful intensity of our individual personal and family issues can leave each of us feeling like we’re in no other place except the darkest of pits.

But what if, day by day, we’re getting more of God’s blessings and Light instead?

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.”

Proverbs 4:18

What if our breakthrough was closer than we realized? What if each of us, in our lives and recovery, was more than “halfway there” concerning the light of God’s hope and blessings? What if?

Next time we see a Menorah, let’s all stop and think about how God continues to bless us, adding His new blessings to each of us, day by day. It’s not hopeless; we’re not hopeless! God has lit His Love and Hope for us thus far.

How much more then, is He going to Light our lives in the future?