Let There Be Light

How do we light the world? Can we? Each year we enter into this season where everything is darker and colder and each year we look for ways to bring light into the darkness.

Back in early November I spied this post from the Howard County 50-Plus Centers:

Don’t let the loss of daylight hold you back! 

It’s meant to encourage residents to sign up for a fitness class to bring some energy to the cold, dark months. But, because I am not exactly like other people, I read these words and thought, 

Don’t let the loss of daylight hold you back! Rage, rage against the dying of the light.*

So, what do we do? Do we reach for ways to light the world or do we rage against the dying of the light?

The late cartoonist Charles Schulz illuminates this struggle in a Peanuts strip in which Linus says, “I have heard that it is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.”

Artist Charles Schulz, United Features Syndicate/ Peanuts Worldwide LLC

Big sister Lucy comes along and yells, “Curse you, darkness!”

It’s complicated. Some days we want to light a candle. Some days we want to curse the darkness. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately.

That’s probably why I noticed something about the return of the Giving Machines at the Mall in Columbia  this year. 

 It’s not just a Giving Machine. It’s a Light the World Giving Machine.

Light the World is an initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (Please note: it is couched in Christian language because they are a Christian-centric denomination. But the purpose is service, not proselytizing.)

What is Light the World?

#LightTheWorld is an invitation to transform Christmas into a season of service. It’s a worldwide movement to touch hearts and change lives by doing the things Jesus did: feeding the hungry, comforting the lonely, visiting the sick and afflicted, and showing kindness to everyone. Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). #LightTheWorld is the perfect way to let our light—and His light—shine brightly.

Light the World partners with both global charities and local nonprofits to offer communities the chance to to participate in acts of giving. 

Imagine swiping your credit card at a vending machine—but instead of buying a candy bar for yourself, you’re buying a sheep for a family in a third-world country. Or a polio vaccine. Or a pair of shoes. Or 100 meals for your local food bank. With the #LightTheWorld Giving Machines, that’s exactly what happens. The Giving Machines provide a way for people to…help those in need and make the …season a little more meaningful for themselves and for countless others.

This year’s nonprofits are:

Bridges to Housing Stability

Bright Minds Foundaction

Digital Harbor Foundation 

Franciscan Center

Grassroots Crisis Intervention 

Check out their Instagram page to see just what needed items you can choose to fund for these local nonprofits: What you can give, Giving Machines Maryland. Prices range from 10 dollars to 150 so you can pick an amount which is right for your budget. 

The Giving Machines will be at the Mall until December 18th.

If, like me, you are struggling to find the light these days, perhaps you’ll find a little amongst your neighbors and friends at the Mall this year - - gathered around the Giving Machines. 

Village Green/Town² Comments 

*Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - - Dylan Thomas