Sunday, March 9, 2014 (Daylight Savings)

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

I like many of my friends suffer from Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD). This winter has been particularly hard; the cold weather, repeated snow storms, and lack of light all have done a number on my mental state. I remember in the fall, when Daylight Savings pushed our schedules back and I started coming home in the dark. I would often come home to a dark apartment, turn on a light or two, crawl into bed and retreat into my bushel basket.

As other stressors in my life increased, job, volunteer work, etc, I found that crawling into bed right when I got home wasn’t actually very helpful. Instead, I would come home and turn on every light in the apartment and busy myself with my long list of household chores and projects, trying to beat the darkness into the corners.

When that stopped working, Ben got me a lightbox, we got a cat, and I started seeing a nutritionist. All of which have helped me get through the last two months. Though I have to admit, when I say the following post on my friends Facebook wall  “Winter needs to end soon or I'm going to be on the next one-way train to crazy town. My emotions/hormones/energy levels are going wonky with all of the overcast days and lack of sunlight. Not even eating well, taking extra Vitamin D, and a lightbox are cutting it anymore.” there was a strong feeling of resonance.

The passage from Matthew speaks of our inner light and how we are called by God to live into our best selves. Frankly this winter, I feel like my light has been given a lampshade and then covered with some dark fabric which are just starting to give way now that the light is coming back and my cat wakes me up at 5:30am just to show me how she can sunbathe on my head.

I pray that as I and others come out of this time of darkness, that we rediscover the light inside us that was never extinguished, only maybe forgotten or hidden under our bushel baskets of our own making. I pray that as each of us begins to breath in the warm air of spring we feel that life giving force fill us up and awaken our sleeping spirits. And I pray that as we let our lights shine before others, others will be empowered to do the same.