Kislev- Connecting to Hope and Light

Thursday evening begins the month of Kislev. Kislev is related to the word Kislah, which means hope and confidence.  Kislev is the darkest time of year, but it encourages us to stay hopeful and confident, even when we are moving through dark or difficult times.   

During Kislev we celebrate Hanukkah, a time when the holy temple was reclaimed and re-purified after being desecrated, and a single cruse of oil miraculously brought eight days of light instead of one.   This reminds me that there is always the possibility to begin again and reclaim our inner holiness and light, even when things seem bleak.  It might require some effort, but we should never give up.  We always have the choice to re-dedicate ourselves to nurturing our inner light in order to be of service to ourselves and others.  
 
What might help you to stay hopeful and steadily move towards more light in your life?