First Candle

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent. Traditionally the first advent candle represents hope. Webster's defines hope as "to cherish a desire with anticipation". The Greeks believed hope was let out of Pandora's box along with all the other evils of the world. Though hope is generally described as leaving the box weakly,and maybe that's why it didn't get out at first with everything else, in its own way hope's effect is stronger than the other escapees. Whether or not hope is an evil or a comfort is a debate best left for the philosophers. I prefer Emily Dickinson's description

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul.
And sings the tune
Without the words,
and never stops at all.

Maybe hope is that thing in your soul which you only notice when you want a new Ninitendo Wii that's sold out absolutely everywhere and you get to Circuit City just before they open and join the line when you know they really don't have enough units in stock, but why not try. On the other hand, when you are in the depths of despair and hope's flame is nearly extinguished you can't escape the emptiness and you realize the absence of hope is a feeling much stronger and ever present than hope itself. As Emily Dickinson says, it never truly stops, hope returns with time and once again you feel the feathers tickle your soul. So tonight I light the first candle of Advent and wish for hope to sing in everyone's soul.