The Muslim world is half-way through their Holy Month of Ramadan, while the Christian world begins Advent this week, as they count down the Sundays until Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, the Jewish world is polishing their menorahs as they prepare for the eight days of Hanukkah, which begin on Dec. 10.

And that's just three of the religious traditions that mark these winter months with rituals of remembrance and reflection.

There's also Santa Lucia day, celebrated on Dec. 13 in Sweden, as the festival of lights. And there's the winter Solstice, on Dec. 21 - a day held meaningful since the earliest times - the darkest day of the year. And there's Kwanzaa, the African-American celebration beginning Dec. 26, framing for its participants guiding principles of living.

To say that each of these holidays hinge on a story of light amidst darkness is to oversimplify them. To say that each asks its adherents to pause for a time, to reflect on their faith and the grounding beliefs of their lives comes closer to describing the richness of these rituals.

To understand that a universal aspect of the human heart and the faiths that sustain us is that we must make time to remember that not only are we not self-derived or completely self-sufficient, but that we need one another to make it through this life - this comes closer still to touching the common theme in all of these winter holidays.

But deeper still is this truth. The blessings of life include Mystery and powers beyond our control. Because our religious tradition draws "from many sources," as our Principles and Purposes say, it is incumbent on us to have a sense of what the winter weeks say when one steps back far enough to observe the pattern they make. One message seen: life is a mystery for which to be grateful.

This year, as we explore together various world religions, as we move through this last month of a very tough year, might we allow ourselves to embrace whatever traditions most connect us to one another - that most connect the feelings in our hearts with the good works of our hands - that most reaffirm for us the spiritual and religious truths that anchor our lives.

May this month of December bring each and all whatever blessings we most need.

In Faith, Beth