Message from the Transitional Synod Leader: Lighting the Candles of Joy
The holiday season calls us to celebrate joy, but what does joy truly mean? Unlike happiness, which ebbs and flows with our circumstances, joy is a deep, abiding presence within us. Rooted in relationship and nurtured by experience, joy is not easily taken away—it must be surrendered to fade. Even when it feels as though it has slipped away, joy is often only forgotten, waiting patiently to be rediscovered.
Howard Thurman's poignant poem, "I Will Light Candles This Christmas," paints a vivid picture of joy as an act of resilience and hope:
I will light candles this Christmas.
Candles of joy, despite all the sadness.
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
Candles of courage where fear is ever present.
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days.
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens.
Candles of love to inspire all of my living.
Candles that will burn all the year long.
Thurman's words invite us to embrace joy not as a fleeting emotion but as a bold declaration of trust and defiance in the face of hardship. Joy is not something we conjure through sheer willpower or personal fortitude. Instead, it is a gift of faith—a light that shines within and through us, even in the darkest times.
The story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, illustrates this beautifully in her song, the Magnificat: "My soul magnifies the Lord, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant" (Luke 1:46-55). Despite the uncertainty and challenges of her journey, Mary's faith anchored her joy and magnified her hope.
In a sermon I preached years ago, The Scandal of Christmas, I reflected on the struggles Mary must have faced as whispers of doubt swirled in her community. "Why this one? Isn't she a nobody? Can you believe the story she is telling—visitation from an angel? Can you imagine Joseph standing by her? It doesn't take much to imagine what Mary endured before the nation would call her 'blessed.'"
The prophet Isaiah centers joy and hope in God's steadfast presence:
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid,
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might;
He has become my salvation.
With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:2-6)
This season, I am leaning on these truths in a deeply personal way. Last year, my family experienced the profound loss of our daughter-in-law in a tragic accident. As the anniversary of her passing approaches, I find myself needing to practice what I preach—to rediscover joy, to light candles of hope and courage, even amidst sorrow.
The holiday season often amplifies grief, disappointment, and fear, but it is also a time for reflection and renewal. When we pause to light candles of joy, hope, courage, and love, we resist the weight of despair and affirm God's enduring presence in our lives. As we move through this season, let us pray for those who are grieving, struggling, or afraid. Let us extend love and support to those around us, shining as beacons of God's light in the world.
The year's closing brings challenges and opportunities, but it also offers us a chance to step forward with hope. There is a time and a season for everything under the sun—a time to laugh and a time to dance. May you experience both this holiday season. This Christmas, may we light candles of joy that burn brightly, not just for the season, but all year long.
God's peace and joy be with you now and always.
Rev. Ashley and Family