A Word from Rev Gordon

Our spiritual theme for this month is Divine Light: Marvelous Light

“Spirituality is recognizing the divine light that is within us all. It doesn’t belong to any particular religion; it belongs to everyone”

Muhammad Ali

Light is a source of illumination, whether a natural one (like the sun) or an artificial one (like your lamp). Like light itself, the word can take a lot of different forms — it can be a noun, an adjective, or a verb, and it can mean “bright” or “not heavy”. Therefore, Light, when we move from theory, speculation, possibility, plans, hopes, and good intentions into actual existence, is the thing that illuminates our lives. It is the spark within that manifests as our best selves, I believe.

Envisioning may be an essential ingredient of sharing your light but once you do, it can bring a vision into existence that requires effort and determination and desire and confidence and resources and patience – and sometimes, according to many religious traditions, it also requires openness to creative forces beyond ourselves. You see, living in the light may mean being open and authentic and mostly loving I think. We can, and should, try finding more light, more care, more compassion, more love: darn it somewhere!

This particular season is both a homecoming for me and one filled with new, challenging, and even exciting possibilities. For one, I’m amazed that I’m back in Los Ángeles. I can’t wait to walk up Christmas Tree Lane for the first time since 2017 and I have just learned about the Valley’s Candy Cane Lane. OMG, I cant wait to see this…

How about you? What does this season bring for you? I look forward to learning about your traditions and hopes, your goals and dreams around this season, and the Light and Dark of it all.

Each year, December brings a month filled with holidays, celebrations complete with a variety of gift-giving traditions —and to the glee of students and educators alike— school vacations. Before we fully engage this season, I’d like to suggest that we look closely at the traditions we hold near and dear. How about discussing with your family and friends the rituals across cultural holiday traditions, and most importantly, the ways we as a congregation and you as an individual or family group celebrate them?

In what ways does holiday gift giving and merrymaking figure in the popular imagination through great literature that is re-read and performed year after year? Trace your own traditions, especially the practice of gift giving and big celebratory dinners. Consider if common themes and elements can be found within the different spiritual traditions that form your own theology and make your connections to Unitarian Universalism more meaningful.

As the holiday season has come upon us so often we find our world speeding up faster past us. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the month, weeks, and days, for all that we have to do. We are trying to keep up with decorating, shopping, parties, end-of-the-year meetings; purchasing that special new gadget that is on sale; and keeping up with the gift giving of our family, friends, and neighbors. We are so swamped with everything that we often don’t take the time to focus on the spiritual meaning of the season. We forget the inner light!

So here is a little exercise you might consider: Write down your affirmations or guidelines for what you want this season to be about. You can write it on a sticky note or an index card. Place it where you can see it. Place it on your bathroom mirror or in your wallet. I’m putting mine on my refrigerator.

Look at what motivates you this season. Is it about keeping up with your gift giving? Is it about trying to outdo others? Or, is it about bringing service and light to a world in desperate need of love? Is it about trying to make every person’s party? Or is it about visiting someone that you haven’t seen in some time? Is it about eating and drinking more, until you feel wasted? Or, is it about your quest for a deeper meaning in your values? Only you can examine this.

Finally, take some time for yourself. Get away from everything for a few hours. Schedule a block of time for your mind. Find a place to just relax and enjoy yourself. For some, it might be a few quiet moments in meditation. For others, it might be a stroll along the beach or a walk in the mountains. For others it might be binge watching the holiday movies.

This time will give you the opportunity to focus on the spiritual meaning of the holiday season. This time set aside is to remind you of what’s important to you. This season, if you allow it, may be just what you need to find your LIGHT!

Here’s to a season filled with light (and, yes, dark) and possibilities for love!

May it be so for each of us!


In faith,

Rev. Gordon Clay Bailey