Season of little lights.

It's rapidly becoming the thing that I look forward to the most every December.

Not the gifts.  Not the shopping.  Not the food, tasty though it is.  Not even the gatherings -- too many moments of stress there, even though they are still wonderful and worth it.

No, the thing that makes my heart lift is the the light.  The little lights, shining in the darkness.

The nights get longer, the days get darker, and we all seem to get so tired.  Or is that just me?  No, I really don't think it's just me.

See, even now I'm tired, bone tired, so I may not be explaining this very well.

It's just...you've seen them, right?  You know what I'm talking about.  They're on the houses, on the lamp-posts, on the trees.

The craving for light at this time of year seems to be universal -- and the bringing of light, the bearing of light, the witnessing and the appreciating of light -- this seems to be the common denominator in a variety of seasonal celebrations and traditions.

Even this post -- this is me, shining one little light.

May it bring you warmth, comfort, and peace.