by Susan Ternyey, Dec 2019
Light travels 93 million miles to get here from our sun, at the speed of light, and though that trip takes nearly 8.5 minutes, a bolt of lightning travels exactly the same speed in a flash. While strange lights in the sky have haunted humans at times, how much more we dread the dark. We are glad enough that the long dark nights of Fall shorten with the solstice—reason enough to celebrate!
The starry sky has been our University, by degrees. From somewhere in the dim, distant past, humans have tried to figure out the stars, make meaning from them, and then measure human movement, bodies in the solar system, the galaxy, and the Universe. And although the moon only reflects the sun’s light, what an influence it has had on earth; and humans– since we’ve inhabited this planet.
Light gives life, it scares away frights of the night, guides us on our travels, protects us from falling off precipices and stubbing our toes, lengthens our days, and celebrates our life-ways. When humans could, they brought light to the night with blazing bonfires, heartening hearths, and comforting candles. Now electricity is the spark that ignites the lights of our lives like never before.
Light became a symbol a long time ago. Light represents goodness, wisdom, glory & honor. Lady Liberty raises her lamp to light the way–even if our nation hasn’t yet matched her promise, it’s the ideal we hold high: the American Dream. A lightbulb is a pervasive image in our society for a good idea. And light brings gladness and cheer, especially this time of year. We both celebrate light, and we celebrate with lights—at all times of the year.
from "Traveling Light" at
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/traveling-light
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