Students representing various faiths shared “Celebrations of Light” and offered words of encouragement and hope on Wednesday night for the 74^th Annual Yule Log Lighting ceremony.

University interim co-chaplain Rev. Beth Fogle-Miller welcomed everyone around the Yule Log near Hulley Tower to participate in an event observing the winter solstice commemorating the coming of light into the darkness.

The evening began with an interfaith prayer and an original poem titled “Soulful Luminosity”written by Rajni Shankar-Brown, PhD, professor and Jessie Ball duPont Endowed Chair of Social Justice Education, poet and artist. “We have moonlight and soon we will have a dancing fire. We will start the night with a universal blessing and a poem that I wrote for our divine gathering,” said Shankar-Brown.

“Together we are radiant constellations connecting hearts, story to story, a fusion of human kaleidoscopes. Tonight, we pause with gratitude and think about the blazing bright starry universe, beautifully diverse in faith and culture. Under a generous woven shawl knit of darkness and light, we breathe in the peace of poetic paradoxes…May we be drawn together,” added Shankar-Brown.

This year, the Yule Log was lit by university interim co-chaplain Rev. Harland Merriam in a temporary fire pit at the beginning of the ceremony so that everyone sitting around the lawn could enjoy the presentations by the warmth and the light of the burning log. 

“Let’s get in touch with the darkness. Sometimes darkness comes from outside of us, the culture around us and the differences that we have a hard time making peace with,” said Merriam. “Light can chase away and overcome the darkness because light is more powerful than darkness.”

Greg LeFils, PhD, visiting assistant professor of Choral Music Education, accompanied by Jana Cotta, coordinator of Hatter1 Card Services & Residential Business Operations, led the audience in Christmas carols throughout the evening.

Mary Brandt, interfaith fellow and president of Catholic Campus Ministry, shared that “light can represent the presence of God, holiness and faith. Light in the form of fire symbolizes prayers and hope.”

“We are entering a very dark night of finals and we have to push through,” she added. “Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light to power through these last two weeks together as a Stetson community.”

Erik Libby, member of Young Life, reminded the crowd to stay hopeful despite the many setbacks of a pandemic, wars overseas and the devastation of recent hurricanes in Florida. 

“When Jesus walked the earth over two thousand years ago, he never promised that life would be perfect, but that he promised that we can find peace and grace in his love. I believe that that love is where true light shines from,” said Libby. 

“I believe light is love and love is powerful. I encourage you all to love the way Jesus loves us,” he added.

Michael Nguyen, president of the Asian Pacific American Coalition, share perspectives of light based on the Vietnamese culture and Buddhist religion.

“In my Vietnamese household we use light as a noun and light as a verb- to light,” said Nguyen. “Light is a symbol of good health and fortune. As we celebrate the mid-autumn festival, we light paper lanterns to symbolize light.”

“In Buddhism, we think of light as a verb. We light incense as a symbol of respect to our loved ones who have passed on. Honoring them is very important to us,” he added.

Leslie Sims, from Stetson Wesley shared that “light can hold its own against the darkness of the world. We see light in almost all faiths as a metaphor of some kind.”

While attendees approached the Yule Log fire, Fogle-Miller invited everyone to release old burdens and focus on gratitude despite the hurts from the past year while opening to the best of what is to come.

The interfaith ceremony ended with a choral singing of “Silent Night.” 

– Alicia Scott