Spiritual Journey Thursday and Poetry Friday, Week 49: Light, Darkness, Silence, and Hope

12/3/2025

Welcome to Spiritual Journey Thursday. I am hosting this month. I've included this for Poetry Friday as well. I’m subbing both Thursday and Friday this week so I have this written early.

December is typically seen as one of the three dark months: November-December-January. It’s considered the darkest with the Winter Solstice on the 21st. I remember a time when I wasn’t a fan of these shortened days but now I embrace them.
In preparing for this post, I found this haiku on the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks on Facebook:

The darkness will pass
The Sacred light will find us...
Will we be awake?

by Pat Leyko Connelly

How will you be awake? I look for the good and kindness in the world everyday. Writing my daily haiku awakens me. Getting out to see the sunrise like I did today (which for transparency, I’m writing this on Wednesday). I feel through writing and creating my art I am leaving hints for the Sacred light to find me.
While on the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks page, I found this quote from Thomas Merton:

"The world of men has forgotten the joys of silence, the peace of solitude, which is necessary, to some extent, for the fullness of human living."

Wow, I took a breath, it resonated. It feels like the perfect companion quote to go with the haiku.
Our world is so noisy currently. This is why being at the coast or going up to Wildwood is so necessary for my spiritual well being. I’m a little sad as this year it will not work to wake up to ocean sounds on New Year’s Day. I am looking for alternate places of solace, such as, The Japanese Garden, which will be only open to members on January 1.
As we move through Advent, each week holds a word. Hope-Peace-Joy-Love
This week I noticed Hope in the news that an anonymous donor is covering the cost for the last two terms of seniors in medical school at the University of Washington. It gives me hope in the generosity of others. Earlier this year, when a college friend of mine lost his home to fire, hope came though those who reached out to him in his time of need. Hope was this morning at sunrise.
In the coming weeks, my plan is to notice darkness and light, the moments of silence and find ways the Advent word for the week manifests itself.
How about you? Please leave your SJT link below. My entry for Poetry Friday is below.

Poetry Friday

Irene at Live Your Poem is hosting Poetry Friday this week.

This is my daily haiku for 12.03.25. It finds hope in the morning and connect with SJT.

day begins
in the bird's song quiet hope
all aglow

If you want information about the 2026 New Year Postcard Exchange, read HERE.

Please sign up by December 20 on HERE.

15 Comments

Linda Mitchell

12/4/2025 03:02:53 am

Beautiful, Jone. I long for peace and the quiet of stillness these days. I feel it in your words and in the quotation you shared. Thank you. xo

Kim Johnson

12/4/2025 03:48:32 am

Jone, this is such a lovely way to welcome the season of Advent and to think about the quiet peace of Christmas and its true meaning. Thank you for hosting this month, and I'm including my link here: https://kimhaynesjohnson.com/2025/12/04/december-2/

Patricia Franz link

12/4/2025 10:29:55 am

I love the haiku, Jone -- full of hope! I think we often let the world lull us into losing hope. But the daily practice of writing, of witnessing sunrise, of stepping out into nature, all of these help us develop the muscle memory for being hope to others. Thank you for this month's reflection.

Margaret G Simon

12/4/2025 02:46:08 pm

Thanks for hosting. Your haiku is beautiful as is that sunrise photo. Focusing on hope is what gets me through these days.

Mona Voelkel link

12/4/2025 06:54:57 pm

Jone, as someone who hates the cold and these dark days, you have inspired me to get up early and watch the sunrise and find beauty, Very moving post. Also loved your stunniing photo of the orange-yellow sunrise against the stark branches and the haiku, including the peace and power of the "all aglow" line. Thank you!

Irene Latham

12/5/2025 05:38:05 am

Dear Jone, how will you be awake? is a question I ask myself on a daily basis. Thanks for these reflections! xo

Tabatha

12/5/2025 07:41:02 am

Jone, I get emails from the Friends of Silence...maybe you would like them. They have monthly newsletters. Looking forward to the postcard exchange!

Linda Baie link

12/5/2025 08:11:58 am

Focusing on the hope I see in my friends and family, and from those fighting for good in the world keeps me going, Jone. Your haiku brings light to our world. Thank you!

Rose Cappelli

12/5/2025 12:54:09 pm

Both your photo and haiku glow with hope, Jone! I love the dark quiet of a winter morning, watching the light gradually appear.

Ramona link

12/5/2025 01:26:37 pm

Jone, I love this post. I refer to this time of year as crawling into the cave, but the good news is that we start crawling out on Dec. 22. When I lived in Seattle, the daffodils were the first harbinger of spring in February. Still wondering what signals spring is coming in NC!
Loved your reaction to the Thomas Merton quote: "Wow, I took a breath, it resonated." I happened on the full moon a few nights ago and chased it all the way home. I love things that remind us to slow down and take a breath.
Thanks for hosting. Sorry I'm a day late.

Janice S link

12/5/2025 02:11:05 pm

Your haiku sooth me. Really beautiful. This is such a noisy troubled world and I need to tune out the noise more.. Thank you for organizing the post card exchange. I look forward to it each year.

arjeha link

12/5/2025 05:53:45 pm

Jone, it is a shame that people have forgotten the joy of silence. Too often people feel that every second must be filled with conversation or noise of some kind. People forget that silence is a gift to be cherished. It is a time to reflect and take a step back from the craziness around us. Thanks for reminding us and thanks for hosting this month's SJT. Bob

Mary Lee

12/6/2025 05:10:55 am

I'm with you in being very intentional about seeking out silence and solitude. Both are so necessary for my spirt, soul, and creativity.

Fran Haley link

12/6/2025 06:22:29 am

Thank you for hosting and for this beautiful theme, Jone.I crave silence. I make spaces for it - as we must strive do for all things sacred.I am thinking about your friend and the fire, likely still overcoming, and how we are all to help one another along life's way with generosity of heart. I am late in posting here - I have taken time away from blogging and it is a blessing to return and read the words of others.

jan/bookseedstudio link

12/7/2025 04:22:06 am

Dear Jone, I'm sorry you won't have your usual coastal embrace, but these words, your stunning sunrise picture, lead me to feel the embrace of the magnola tree outside my window & two still-berry full beauty berry trees, at this early Sunday hour. I hope you are able to soak up the serenity of that one-day-a-year Japanese garden. Your fan, jan/bookseedstudio