Happy Solstice, dearly beloveds. Today the Winter Solstice has ushered us past the longest night of the year. This darkest day is near Christmas, a day supposedly all about the cheer, the ho-ho-ho, the holly and mistletoe and kissing, and of course the joy of the birth of a Savior… But what about those of us who don’t exactly feel the excitement, the happiness, the celebratory nature of the Christmas season? What about those who live in perpetual darkness, that is only more deeply highlighted by the short days and long nights, the black skies that seem to envelop our souls and torture our authentic selves? For many survivors of sexualized violence (or any other abuses, trauma or grief), Christmas is not necessarily the “happiest time of the year.” In fact it’s full of past memories, regret, shame, disbelief, and often an overarching theme of cynicism and even desperation. I’ve been seeing a spiritual director at St. James Episcopal Church in Taos, who invited me to the “Longest Night of the Year” worship service, a sacred space intended for helping us live through dark times. The service included a time of reflection, acceptance of where we are, and an offering of […]
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