Happy Hanukkah to you all! This Feast of Lights begins at sundown tonight.
This Jewish festival commemorates when Maccabees successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting. The story can be found in Maccabees 1 in the Old Testament.
In my family, we will be ackowledging Jewish traditions as we welcome my niece Lauren's fiance, Jordan, to our clan. I'm looking forward to this so much.
We as Christians can embrace the spirit of this festival, too. Part of the significance is that the Temple was restored and purified. What can you do to restore and purify the temples in your life--your church, your home, and even your body? Perhaps you can clean out some of the junk in your home, or be a better steward of your body--or even fast for a cause.
Here at the Ben Library, we have a charming children's book about Hanukkah titled _Just Enough is Plenty_ by Barbara Diamond Goldin. I find myself thinking about that title, in this season of excess--excess stress, excess consumption, excess spending, etc. Perhaps we should try to have "just enough" for ourselves this season, and be wiser stewards of our resources. Do we really need to go overboard with gifts this year? Do we really need to be gluttons? Why not give more to those with too little? It would be a blessing to give to our food pantries, and to adopt someone from the many Giving Trees in stores, churches, schools, and libraries. That way, someone else can share the blessing of having "just enough."
As I was reading up on Hanukkah traditions, I took note of the modern focus that has started as we ponder the significance of this Festival: conservation of resources, especially energy resources. I happen to work in a green building, and we are conscious of being good stewards of our environment and resources. I will try to extend this to my home. It just happened to start the snow season today, but I will keep the thermostat down and bundle up at home in my Snuggie, sweater and warm slippers. (Luckily, my family is willing to comply with this too.)
So, Happy Hanukkah, everyone! In this Festival of Lights, let us keep first and foremost in our minds and our deeds the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ--the Light of the World. Let us let His love shine brightly through us this holiday season.
