Hope is a choice, strengthened through practice; not a reflection of light, but light itself.– David Von Drehle, Washington Post January 1, 2023

Light. That most universal and persuasive expression of how we know, as human beings, all we can know. Naturally the light we think of first is the light that arrives through our physical eyes. But that’s not all—indeed, the physical experience might be the least of the light which brings us wisdom, compassion, and hope.

I embrace a tradition which begins with light. The Bible story launches itself in the book of Genesis: God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light; and God saw that the light was good.

As we’ve learned from physics and astronomy, the qualities of light are fundamental to the emergence of the universe and its creative evolution. That’s its physical significance. We human creatures are literally bodies of light. Further along as human creatures, we achieved the ability to use words. Through language, we comprehend light as metaphor, comparing one thing to another to unfold our understanding of life itself.

My poet friend, teacher, and mentor, the late John Frederick Nims, writes: “The poet’s preference for thinking in images…is based on the way our body and mind put us in touch with the universe….The discovery of any surprising likeness is one more clue to the suspicion that there seems to be an order, however deep and mysterious, in the universe.”

Thus we speak of wisdom as enlightenment. Thus we speak of Jesus Christ as “the light of the world.” Thus we practice any and every belief as our personal embodiment of light. (And alas sometimes of darkness.)

The Big Three are proclaimed in the ringing description written in a letter to people in Corinth in the earliest days of what became Christianity. “In a word, there are three things that last for ever: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of them all is love.” (New English translation)

Faith. Hope. Love. These mysteries form the very order of the universe. These are the fundamental conditions of life we can choose to practice. Yet even before choice comes the deep down realization that we are, each of us, the embodiment of Light. If you like, call it God. Call it Christ. Call it whatever metaphor or story enlightens your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Faith, hope, and love are as real and powerful as the rocks, the waters, the trees, the stars.

As a little girl, I learned this in the simplest way, and the songs I learned in childhood still echo in my memory: “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…”… “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam to shine for him each day…” “Immortal, invisible, God only wise/In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes…”

Later in life, I was given a poem to write that has become a touchstone of my being. I share it again here and now. I believe that poetry is my practice of hope, encouragement, and love—a way of being transparent to the Light I’m made of.

WHEN I BECOME TRANSPARENT

When I become transparent,
the universe will be
a little less invisible
through my transparency.

I wish you radiance within for the new year and always. Choose hope.