The Longest Night
Tonight is the longest night of the year for those of us living in the northern hemisphere of Planet Earth. Ancient humans watched throughout this long night, then celebrated joyously when the light returned with the sunrise. They knew the darkness would gradually be vanquished, and growth and life would eventually return. In short, they knew they would survive. For us, tonight is the longest night of the year in a year that has seemed interminable. It feels like we've been dwelling in darkness for a very long time--spiritual, emotional, physical darkness. It feels like a physical weight we've been carrying or anxiety we've been clenching tightly. For far too many of us, the darkness has been in the form of grief. Too many lives lost. Too many families broken. Too many patients lost. Too many caregivers exhausted. Tonight is indeed the longest night of the year. We can choose to dwell in the darkness--and it is actually importa...