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Carrying a candle
from one little place of shelter
to another
is an act of love.
To move through the huge
and hungry darkness, step by step,
against the invisible wind
that blow for ever around the world,
carrying a candle,
is an act of foolhardy hope.
~ Jan Sutch Pickard, Carrying a Candle
We carry candles at ARISE Ministry. We carry candles onto the street as we do outreach . We carry candles that shine a light on exploitation as we do awareness and prevention work. We carry candles into the darkness of trauma, shame and hurt in our accompaniment with participants in our case management program. It is an act of love. The wind blows and we will carry these candles with hope and with love.
What awes me about our celebration of Advent in Canada is that as our nights get longer, the Advent wreath shines brighter as each candle gets lit. Advent is the season of hope. We are reminded each week that light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not and cannot overcome it.
This Advent may we all carry the gifts each candle brings - hope, peace, joy and love. May we commit acts of love and foolhardy hope, that all may know that light shines in the darkness and Hope Lives Here!
Blessings to you this Advent Season and Always,
Deb
Rev. Deb Stanbury
Community Chaplain & Executive Director
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