It’s the season of light in the time of darkness. As we approach the winter solstice (and by coincidence, my birthday), the days get shorter, darkness falls early and we go inward in our thoughts. It can sometimes feel like it will never be light again, and our ancestors apparently feared that was the case, so they summoned the light by lighting candles and torches, sitting by raging bonfires. It’s the time of the festival of Saint Lucia (that girl with the wreath of candles on her head), and twinkling Christmas lights brighten our windows and gardens (is it just me, or do more people put up lights now than they did pre-pandemic?). As I was walking last night along Toronto’s swanky Cumberland Street, I saw this brilliant display of lights and it raised a song in my heart and put a smile on my face.
Sometimes I feel the darkness. There’s a lot to be dark about these days. But when I see the beauty of the lighting displays everywhere, and this one in particular, I was reminded of the light inside all of us that’s there if we look. Even when things can feel really dark and hopeless (as it sometimes does this time of year in the northern hemisphere), one small, burning light can act like a beacon, a spark of hope. Little acts of kindness, a child’s laughter, singing holiday songs with a group of people, these can light the light inside of us. In the little community that is my voice studio at Laurier, I’ve felt its shine from so many simple things: the act of courage of a new studio member when they stand in front of the class and manage to sing bravely for a change; students making friends with one another and holding one another up when they struggle; someone crying tears of joy and discovery when they sing truly from their heart for the first time, and know it.
My little light at the moment is my teaching. I don’t know always if I want to sing so much anymore myself, but I sure love helping others find their way to their authentic sound. These are the little gifts and it gives me so much joy to help them shine, these little lights of mine.