There is a line in an ancient Hebrew poem, “Those who go out with weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy.” (Psalm 126:6) The holiday season, like the road of life or any season of change, is not always joyful. Tears and grief are a common part of our human experience. Even in this season of light and celebration, tears are flowing for many. Sorrow is real for those who have lost loved ones, lost good health, lost jobs, lost homes, or lost hope. Sorrow can be particularly deep for those enduring war, violence, poverty, mental or physical illness, or injustice. But in times of sorrow, ]the spirit of love and light flows with us, wiping away our tears and bringing hope to our despair. If we let the Spirit in. The problem is, it’s not always easy to sense the Spirit when tears of grief are flowing. Because of this, love and light come to us through many avenues. Reading a beautiful poem like Psalm 126 can bring us a ray of hope. Holding the hand of a friend who is suffering may bring comfort into our quiet caress. Listening to a colleague cry and scream in their anguish offers us the chance to be the listening ear for someone who most needs to be heard. Even as tears are mingled with joy in this season, God is with us, promising that joy will return, perhaps in this holiday season, perhaps in the year ahead, or perhaps in the great beyond. Whether we are rejoicing or grieving, we are not alone. God is with us, and we can be with one another, loving each and every step of the way.