There is something so beautiful, and so important that happens in many cultures at this time of year: celebration and gratitude for having plenty. This leads us into the celebrations of light that we find all across the northern hemisphere as the day's light shortens. We light lights. We join together. We shoot off fireworks. We have special candles which are lit in a special order. We burn great logs. We have bonfires. Fire and light to create more than darkness can destroy. Darkness suggests hiddenness, things unseen, separateness. Lack of light can mean lack of physical sight, lack of spiritual light, lack of faith, lack of understanding ,lack of love. So the human race creates light, so we can see in all those ways.

There is an entire season devoted to this, which begins when the energy from sunlight that has been stored in our food over the summer is harvested, and ends after the lunar new year in China. It is a season of many cultures and many faith traditions. Each one customarily displays light, thus inviting the rest of us to join joyfully in celebration. It reminds us to "Respect the religious beliefs of others." as L. Ron Hubbard succinctly said in The Way To Happiness. www.thewaytohappiness.org @waytohappinesstampa