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John 1:1-5: “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.”

One mid-December evening, some years ago, as I was driving along a remote stretch on interstate highway, far from home, I ran into a stretch of fog. My child was ill in another state and needed to come home; I was in full mama-bear mode. The fog became thicker and the driving very slow. I was frustrated; time was of the essence as I was trying to take the fewest possible days off work.

The fog became thicker still and I was having difficulty seeing the lane markers. I was debating whether or not to pull off the road for a while -- not sure where the edge was and wondering if that option was even safe, given the conditions. Ahead of me was an eerie dark tunnel of fog illuminated only by my headlights, which didn’t help much.

Suddenly I spotted the faint red glow of taillights, a semi just ahead of me. Trusting that the driver could see better than I, I stayed just as close as I dared; we crawled along for the next ten miles or so, until we finally drove out of the fog. Grateful and relieved, I drove on to my destination. I have never forgotten the hope that those faint red lights gave me.

There are times in our lives when we feel as hopeless as driving in fog. Grief, anxiety, depression, and other intense emotions envelop us, blocking our usual coping mechanisms and turning us into fearful and sometimes paranoid creatures. We are not fun to be around. Friends avoid us because they do not know what to do or say, and family get tired of having this dead weight of unloving and unlovable presence around them. I know because I have been there.

I also know that it was the unwavering, caring presence of family members and friends who loved me, and who were the glowing lights that kept me steady and on course during my recovery. Not all of them realized the extent of my internal suffering but they were there. They did not give up or withdraw.

Epiphany is about light, the light of hope coming into the world. I believe the Christian imperative is to be light in the lives of others, to be signs of hope to others.

Friendship does not mean we have to know all the gory details of another’s life, but it does mean valuing persons for who they are, not for how much they can do or be for you.

You don’t have to bring cookies or say the right words. You just have to care - just be there.

After all, they can’t drive out of the fog without someone to guide them. You are the light of the world.