On this eve of Christmas, and a couple days after the winter solstice, let me take this moment to wish you all the happiest of holidays! A very happy and merry Christmas, Idul, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, a belated happy Diwali, or however you celebrate your religious or non-religious mid-winter observances!

As a Quaker, I can tell you that in our tradition (and it's ironic that the tiny surviving population of Quakers has schismed 19 ways to Sunday, so I don't speak for all of us), we don't celebrate any holidays, because officially we believe that EVERY day is a gift and a Holy Day. But, that's okay, because we have individual conscience and revelation and are free to celebrate The Light as we see fit.

There's something primal and satisfying, here in the Northern Hemisphere at this time of year, on our darkest days, about setting out lights and calling a celebration. One should note how many ancient and modern religions have lights of one sort or another as part of their winter holiday traditions. As well, some very disparate religions look on the spirit as an internal light. The Hindus in their celebration of Diwali, light oil lamps to herald the triumph of good over evil. Jews celebrate the miracle of the oil as a symbol of the eternal covenant with God. The lights on Christmas trees were born of similar stuff. Yes, they're festive, but they're more than that.

Wishing all of you warmth and illumination, of body and spirit! And, may the happy twinkling of holiday lights remind you of the Light Within, which each of us carries, a gift of our Maker.