OHACA (Oxford Hills Area Clergy Association) is a multi-faith group of clergy located in Oxford Hills. They come together once a month to examine mission needs, provide shared worship, and give mutual support.

Several years ago, my spouse bought me a lamp that emits light similar to what is found in our natural world. My family starts using the lamp when the cold, ebony darkness creeps into our days. During the month of December, the light provides us help when our energy is sapped out of us.

Light is important. There is a reason why so many faith traditions (Christian, Jewish, Pagan, and others) use light as a form of worship this time of the year. Light gives us hope that the darkness will not prevail, that light will come back, and that life will grow again. Light is certainly part of the human experience.

However, I offer that the darkness can also be a gift; for when we are in the dark, we can take time to explore, meditate, pray … whatever your tradition (or not). We are invited to remind ourselves that darkness can be a time of growth and transformation. In my Christian faith, I might call it the time in the tomb, referring to the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter.

A time when Jesus was moving from the way he had been known and moving into something new. Nature also welcomes time in the dark. As we humans anticipate the coming of light, bulbs are waiting in the darkness of the dirt… resting and waiting for the time to push out of the earth and become a flower. Butterflies are created when chrysalises go into dark cocoons.

When we can embrace the idea that hope is not just about waiting for the light to return, but hope is also about how we can take the time to live into our best selves and become who we are meant to be, what a time this could be for us!

As this season of December darkness descends upon us, may we all appreciate what it can offer; A time of reflection, and hope for all of us!

Rev. Sara Bartlett, M.Div., is the minister at the Second Congregational Church in Norway, and a member of OHACA. She is a graduate of Andover Newton (currently Yale Seminary) and lives in Auburn with her family.