Dear Colleagues and Friends,

January and February are a dark time; between the lights of Christmas and spring.

The above is scripture dear to me. I’m a Quaker, and the first passage of our Advices and

Queries reads -

Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the

leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new life.

This sums up many things for me. The promptings of our hearts, in love and truth, being the

movement of the Holy Spirit, and the leadings of God. Our darkness is revealed - but new life is found. Our chosen Light, as Christians, is Jesus -

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never

walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’

John 8:12

NRSV

When my darkness is revealed, I remember that Jesus just existed - that God came to earth, as a tiny vulnerable baby born low in a stable. Just remembering the incarnation of God, amongst us, bringing new light - that helps.

As February moves on, and spring comes, take time to notice the new light and life around you.

from Ellen Cross, DBE Administrator