Dec 29th: The Light Within Us All, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski.
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Rev. Dr. Steven Koski
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A New Year’s Invitation: Be the Light
Dear Friends,
As we welcomed Christmas this year, I found myself profoundly moved by one of my favorite traditions. On Christmas Eve, we gathered in a darkened sanctuary, lit only by the small flames of our candles. Together, we sang “Silent Night,” and I watched as the room transformed—one candle lighting another—until the darkness was dispelled by a collective glow. It was a tangible reminder of this truth: even the smallest light can pierce the deepest darkness.
We extinguished our candles that night, trusting that God’s love burns brightly within us. As Howard Thurman so beautifully said, “When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins.” This work calls us to bring hope to the hopeless, mend what is broken, and love without limits.
The Work of Christmas
What if we began the New Year with a shared mission: to be the light in unbearable times? Imagine if each of us took up the mantle to reflect light into the world, much like the writer who shared his story of carrying a small mirror. He used it to reflect sunlight into the darkest places—a game that became his life’s purpose. He realized he wasn’t the source of the light but a bearer of it. And so are we.
In Genesis, God says, “Let there be light.” What if we heard this as a personal call? What if those words were God’s invitation to each of us to live as light-bearers, shining hope and love into the corners of our world where they are most desperately needed?
Stories That Inspire
On Christmas Eve, I shared the story of a bus driver who turned a crowded, irritable rush-hour commute into a moment of grace. With a simple gesture—asking each passenger to “drop their troubles” into his hand—he transformed the atmosphere. Laughter replaced frustration, and strangers connected in unexpected kindness. He reminded us of this powerful truth: anyone, at any moment, can be the light.
Or consider Elizabeth Gilbert’s reflection: sometimes life feels overwhelmingly dark, and yet, in those moments, we may discover we are the light the world is waiting for. Even the simplest acts of grace—a smile, a kind word, a helping hand—can illuminate the lives of others.
Carrying the Light Forward
As we step into this new year, I’m reminded of a beautiful poem by John Riddell:
“In the face of war, I’m so small, yet love is so big…
I can’t make the world be peaceful. I can’t stall tanks from roaring down streets.
But I can love the next person I encounter so fearlessly that it causes a ripple…Because sometimes all it takes is a candle, a single candle lit in the darkness, to start a movement. Lord, make me a candle of comfort in this world. Let me burn with peace.”
Friends, we extinguished our candles on Christmas Eve, but the light of God’s love still burns within us. Let’s carry that light into the world. Let’s light up the lives of others, one small act of love at a time. Just as we shared our light with one another on Christmas Eve, we are called to share that light every day.
Will You Join Me?
This New Year, I invite you to ask yourself: What is the work of light that is mine to do? How might you shine light into a dark corner of the world? Together, let’s commit to being the light in unbearable times and to loving so boldly that it creates ripples of grace, hope, and peace.
May the light of God’s love guide you, comfort you, and shine brightly through you in the year ahead.
With love,
Steven
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