a light in the darkness

tonight we joined mama, wesley and maya for a lantern walk in the waldorf tradition, in honor of st. martin's day, or martinmas. st. martin was a roman soldier. on a bitterly cold day, as he was riding past the gates dressed in the regalia of his unit, he saw a freezing beggar with clothes so ragged he was practically naked. no one would stop to help this man. st. martin was overcome with compassion, so he took off his luxurious white mantle lined with lambswool and slashed it in two with his sword. he gave half to the beggar, who wrapped it around his trembling shoulders. st. martin dreamt that night that the beggar wore the face of christ, and st. martin was so moved by the vision that he abandoned his post in the roman army and was baptized into the christian church.

i hope that we never forget our responsibility to take care of and provide for those less fortunate than ourselves. next week a local children's home is picking up donations in our neighborhood, and we're going to donate clothes and toys.

may the spirit of giving burn bright within us all!