Harvested Light

When the days shorten and night begins to slide over the landscape like a dark blanket, the children prepare their lanterns. Many days are spent creating these vessels of light. Glue and tissues, staples and poster board – all manner of materials have been used to fashion these lanterns. While working, the children learn songs and they hear tale of autumn winds and tumbling leaves….

Autumn is surely here,

Blue skies and cool, crisps nights.

Jack Frost will soon appear,

And leaves will drop from sight

Lanterns are shining brightly,

Shining through long, dark nights….Brightly!

Autumn, the time of harvest, fill us with inner Light!

It is as if the children are preparing to “harvest” light in their lanterns – and indeed, they are. Yet, it is more than the little candles that will flicker in their lanterns. It is the light that shines in their eyes. It is the Light that shines with warmth from their hearts, as they band together to face the dark. Coats are bundled and mittened hands hold both lantern and Mother’s hand or Father’s hand, or - bravely – stepping out solo to follow the winding line of light glimmering into the night. They follow the light….

One year, there was a great pinyon pine on campus that had succumbed to bark beetle. This pinyon had been healthy, large and spreading. And abundant! The children had gathered more pine nuts from this tree than any other. But it had been stricken and now its branches were bare – all needles dropped – only still reaching upward to the sky. The procession of children, parents and teachers curved through the field, singing their songs, lanterns swinging. As we approached the tree, almost instinctively, the group circled the tree.

As we sang a song, one of the fathers stepped forth and lifted his lantern into the branches of the tree. It hung there like a star. Without a word, others followed suit and soon the tree sparkled with the beauty of dozens of lanterns. There was magic….There is magic. Light in the darkness warms hearts. Spread Light…..Share your Light….

Karl David Johnson M.A.