A year ago on December 6, 2023, I set out with excitement to attend the annual Seasons of Light: Praying for Peace event at Harvard Divinity School (HDS), advertised as an “annual multireligious service honor[ing] the interplay of holy darkness and light in the world’s religious traditions.”

I’ve been reflecting ever more on the question of how a gesture, a smile, a hug, a moment of simple human connection, and a truly curious question followed with great active listening can become the action that does more good than words ever could. 

Be on the lookout for the visible signs of invisible good. They’ll tell you more than the asterisms in the sky.

In anticipating the upcoming holiday season, I recognize there may be challenges for many in our society as we get together at the family dinner table over turkey, stuffing and potentially fraught post-election conversation.

“Nobody cares what you think!” my housemate snapped after reading an essay I wrote in response to a reading our professor had assigned in the required peace and justice course we were both taking in our year together at Harvard Divinity School.

It’s the day after Election 2024 and Americans, in a clear decision, have just sent Donald Trump back to the White House as our next president.