BONUS BLOG: never begin a day in the past

With gratitude to Rev. AngelaGay Kinkead, longtime highly respected colleague a and profound friend, who source this, here are helpful words from Rabbi Victor Urecki —-

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A thought as we come to the end of Chanukah:

Tonight is the last night of Chanukah.

Eight candles.

We have added one candle every night, following the tradition of increasing the number on each day.

A reminder to forever increase light in this world.

We have also followed a tradition to light the newest candle first each night.

Why?

Maybe to teach us to never begin a day in the past.

Reliving every regret, mistake, and flaw.

Remembering a candle that was never lit or a lamp in our lives that went out too early.

Or recalling a night where the Chanukiah was never lit.

We light the newest candle first to remind ourselves of where we are now and what we are accomplishing today.

That it is not important where we started life but how we finish.

Because even as we strive to increase the light, let us remember that each day is a new opportunity to be the light.

And that the past must be relit and relived only when we remember the greater light that we are creating today.

Then, and only then, can we look back and see how far we have come.