Georgetown University: In Darkness Candles

Lord, You create day and night,
Rolling away light before darkness,
Darkness before light.
     Thank You for the darkness.
     Without it we could not appreciate the light.
     By the darkness we can measure blessing—
Health by sickness,
Laughter by tears,
Riches by poverty,
Freedom by oppression.
     In the darkness of the night.
     The Maccabees lit a flame
     Which still illuminates our lives
     Thank You for the challenge that they met.
In centuries of night
Men rose at midnight and lit flames.
And by those slender lights,
From torn and tear-soaked prayer books,
They pleaded for Your mercy
And asked an end to exile’s night.
     Thank You for the answer to their prayers.
     Thank You for restoring Israel’s light.
But still night reigns
In all the world.
     Thank You for unfinished tasks.
     In the darkness 
     Teach us to light candles,
Even as we did tonight
In memory of ancient light after darkness.
     A candle is small.
     Not far from where it brightly flames
     The darkness closes in.
But candles light other candles,
And light draws strength from light.
Each night of light let us add candles:
     The candle of hope.
The candle of faith.
     The candle of brave deeds.
The candle of freedom…
     Thank You for the darkness
     Thank You for the light.
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Michael I. Hecht, from The Fire Waits