At the moment of our greatest darkness, we must reach for the light — together

Today, the sun rises at 7:20 a.m. in Annapolis. Exactly 9 hours, 24 minutes and 54 seconds later it will set.

Daylight will last three seconds longer Tuesday. Wednesday adds six seconds, Thursday another 10 and each successive day will grow a bit more bright.

Annapolis passed the solstice at 5:02 this morning, and now our tiny spot on the earth will begin again its millennia-long roll back toward the equator.

So too, have we passed the moment in the coronavirus pandemic when the light will begin to spread.

Even though the number of illnesses and deaths will rise through the winter ahead, even though a new strain of the virus has been reported in England and even though our national government continues to struggle for an effective response to slow the spread and lessen its impact, we have reason to have hope.

In Anne Arundel County, vaccines have arrived at Baltimore Washington Medical Center and Anne Arundel Medical Center. The first to receive inoculations are health careworkers caring for the sick and dying.

Even as we stare ahead at months of pervading coronavirus gloom — the national prediction is that as many as another 500,000 Americans may die during the winter surge upon surge — the incremental advance of vaccinations are a sign of hope akin to the seasonal march of daylight across the hours of the clock. Vaccines make it easier to have faith that this crisis will end, just as the advancing dawn makes it believable winter will end.

Religions around the world celebrate light with festivals and worship. Christians are marking the season of Advent and Jews are lighting candles for Hannukah. The moment that marks the birth of a road to salvation is edging closer; the number of candles representing the miracle of burning oil increases daily.

In a normal year, we would be storing up energy for the cold months ahead with the glow of worship traditions and gatherings with family and friends, the joy of seasonal music and special foods, the shine of holiday illuminations.

But this is no normal solstice. It arrives at a time of darkness brought on by the coronavirus but also by our political discourse. It is reprehensible when those who oppose measures to slow the disease ascribe evil motives to elected leaderswho bear responsibility for imposing them. It is wrong thatwe cannot trust the motives of those who disagree on public policy.

It is unconscionable that the president of the United States, who should be shouting out the success of his administration’s efforts to develop effective vaccines quickly, remains silent as vaccinations begin and resistance to safety measures continue. It is a problem with deeply troubling moral implications that we don’t know who will get the vaccine early not just within the United States but globally.

It increases the darkness of our times that we cannot unite around a common goal of reducing the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths and agree on steps that put slowing the disease as the first priority and addressing the economic pain as the second.

How do we get through the months of sickness and death that lie ahead? Howdo we bring back the light in a moment of darkness?

We can do only what humans have always done at solstice and gather together, now around our electronic connections instead of a bonfire. We can share stories that guide our actions and agree thatwe are in this together. We can reach for the light, together. Happy solstice.