[todaysdate]
By Liv Larson Andrews
I found a clean glass jar. I broke an old taper candle in half so it would fit below the jar’s rim. I glued the candle to the bottom of the jar and filled the extra space with rice. My lantern was ready. And just in case, I kept a book of matches in my coat pocket.
Arlo and I were heading to meet up with all his schoolmates from Windsong School on Friday evening to observe St. Martins Day, or Martinmas. The main activity for celebrating Martinmas is a lantern walk. We meet in Cannon Hill Park, the children bearing the lanterns they made in class, and everyone sings a simple song as we walk around the pond. Then we gather again at a bonfire to hear story of St. Martin and a few more songs.
Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier, high and proud. One of Arlo’s teachers says that he rode so high on his mighty steed, he could not see anyone below him on the street. But there came a day when somehow the vision of Martin changed, his eyes were opened, and he did see one particularly wretched person far down in the gutter, alone and ailing on a cold, wet night. The gallant Martin got down from his horse and was so moved by seeing the suffering of others, he removed his fine red wool cloak and tore it in two. One half he kept, and the other half he draped around the person on the street. That night, he saw the Lord in a dream, clad in a red wool cape.
After that legendary event, Martin leaves the Roman army, gets baptized, joins a monastery, and continues a life of service and friendship to the most needful and wretched. His feast day is Nov. 11. Martin Luther, born on Nov. 10, is named for this saint who cared for the poor.
Martinmas falls halfway between the fall equinox, when night and day are equal, and Christmas, when we celebrate the light of the world who is Christ. As one parent-blogger explains, “St. Martin recognized the divine spark in the poor man on the street, and gave it the protection of his own cloak. When we make a little lantern, we, too, may feel that we are giving protection to our own little “flame”, so that we may carry it safely through the dark world. It may only be a small and fragile light- but every light brings relief to the darkness.”
Every light brings relief to the darkness.
I couldn’t help but think that the message of Martinmas, its light and kindness, is a good one for Spokane. Many cities throughout the U.S., including our own, have passed legislation that increases the divide between those on high horses with fine clothing, and those in the gutter, on the street. With the recent arrest of three citizens in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. for feeding the hungry in public, Martin’s testimony sounds a clarion call. Yes, the darkness deepens all around us. But every light, no matter how small, brings relief to the darkness. And every person has a light to bear, a contribution to make to the health of our community.
May St. Martin’s light shine in Spokane.
