This is the season for sparkle—around us and in our souls.   

In the Northern Hemisphere, as we experience the fewest hours of daylight, many are busy hanging Christmas lights that twinkle in the darkness. At sunset, our Jewish sisters and brothers light candles on their menorahs to celebrate Hannukah. The stars seem to shine brighter in the darkest time of the year.  

Outside in the daylight, the earth also sparkles. The other day I was walking along our farm lane and the way the sunlight reflected off the dirt created a glistening pathway. It looked like fairy dust had been scattered everywhere. Science might tell us that the effect is created by the minerals within the shist, but I believe it is also a reminder from God that all of creation sparkles with Divine presence. Including you.  

Within each of us is a spark of the Divine. Each of us was born with an eternal light inside of us. Each one of us has a unique sparkle.  As Trappist monk and writer Thomas Merton (1915-1968) wrote: “It is like a pure diamond, blazing with the invisible light of heaven. It is in everybody, and if we could see it, we would see these billions of points of light coming together in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely.”  (Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander)

This essay is a gentle reminder that no matter where you are or what you are going through, you have an inner radiance that guides you, accompanies you, and loves you deeply. You are created in the image of God. Your soul sparkles. And the Source of Love invites, nudges, and encourages you, me, and all of us to sparkle brightly with Divine Love. It is a profound calling to bring light to the struggles and suffering of our world. 

According to various dictionaries, to sparkle means to shine brightly with flashes of light (Oxford)…to give off or reflect bright moving points of light (Merriam-Webster). Another definition says that to sparkle is to shine brightly with a lot of small pieces of light (Cambridge). Also, to shine or glisten with little gleams of light(dictionary.com). Think of the sun on the water, or jewels that reflect the light.  

A personal story highlights the notion of sparkle. Last winter, my husband and I were enjoying a date night out in Annapolis, Maryland, when a group of glittery women swept into the restaurant, bringing a wave of energy and laughter. I was on crutches recovering from ankle surgery, feeling vulnerable, weak, and clunky. These women lifted my spirits.  

Each woman wore a different colored sparkly piece of clothing. They lit up the place: one wore a sapphire-blue shimmery dress, another had on a firehouse-red sequined jacket, one woman donned a gold glittery tank top, and another looked like a mermaid in her form-fitting, shiny emerald skirt.  The assorted, sparkly colors were enchanting!  

I hobbled over to inquire about the cause for the celebration and learned that it was a fiftieth birthday party.  

“Oh my gosh, I love all your glittery clothes!” I exclaimed.  

A woman in a shiny silver blouse responded with a beaming smile, “Who knew there were so many ways to sparkle?!”  

Indeed…Who knew that there were so many ways to sparkle?  

Her words, along with the images of the sparkling women and the angel dust on the farm lane have lingered with me. We do have so many ways to glisten and shine, especially with a unique spark of the eternal within us. Furthermore, our sparkle illuminates and energizes life around us. Sadly, our sparkle often gets dulled or hidden, whether by neglect, forgetfulness, cynicism, lack of self-care, or some experience that leaves us doubting the goodness that lies within us.  

What helps us to revive our sparkle?  In an earlier draft of this essay, I created a list of ideas that involve “doing”—everyday practices that I have listed below. But in this busy season of to-do lists and emotional turbulence (for those who are ill, grieving, or suffering), I think that the best thing we can do is relax, remember your divine inner radiance, and seek to release stuff that blocks your spark such as harsh judgments of others and yourself, unrealistic expectations, and cynicism.  

Friends, as you see all the glittering lights around you, remember the one inside you. Our souls are connected like Christmas lights twinkling with the light of Love.  

I send you love and blessings for the season. 

Mabeth 

Practical Ideas to Enhance your Sparkle 

• Make intentional time to nourish your soul, such as gathering with others who seek soul nourishment, creating quiet moments in the presence of the Source of Light, or taking a contemplative walk in nature. 
• Light a candle as a tiny ritual to remember and kindle your inner light. 
• Radiate kindness by simple daily acts such as smiling at a stranger, being a calm presence, giving generously, or bringing hope where it is needed. 
• Take a few deep breaths of calm. (Could it be that breathing provides oxygen for your inner spark?)  
• Wear a piece of chic sparkly clothing as a light-hearted way to manifest your intention to sparkle.