Streets of Light

I turned the corner at the top of my road this week, to be greeted by a blazing message that cheered my heart. A local house has joined the Streets of Light initiative, shining a message from their windows that brought a flash of good news into my otherwise troubled heart.

Streets of Light is described as “a trail of light, love and hope.” Running since 2017, the idea behind it is very simple. For one week, at the end of October, people across the region are asked to create a translucent window display. There are hundreds this year. They range from the very simple to some incredibly creative artwork, from black and white to blazing colour. The only stipulation is that they must contain the words light, love or hope somewhere within them.

The windows are lit up for a few hours each evening. They are popping up in people’s homes, places of work, in schools, many churches, and some shops. As a radical alternative to ‘trick or treating’ on the streets, we are encouraged to walk, cycle or jog the Streets of Light trail with family and friends. A charity has distributed 10,000 trail maps on paper and online, including in local schools. We can see the results through the social media hashtag #StreetsOfLight

Streets of Light began in 2017 with 100 homes and businesses taking part near to STC church, in Crookes Sheffield. The vision is to spread the message of light, love and hope as a clear alternative to Halloween. The bible says “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” Like any good idea, it has since spread and caught national attention, so that windows are now lit up in as far away as Dorset, Southend and Liverpool, and even a few overseas.

Halloween isn’t a neutral festival. In fact, I wouldn’t call it a festival, because that brings to mind festivities: heart-warming celebration, community togetherness, something to look forward to. The sorry fact of Halloween is that the only thing it celebrates is death (skeletons, coffins), fear (spiders, ghouls), confectionary, and the colour orange. Don’t collude with silly superstition, don’t be afraid of darkness. This Halloween, look for the most wholesome message that celebrates life, not death.

Follow the trail towards Jesus who said “I am the light of world.”

Visit streetsoflight.co.uk for more.