On May 4, 1945, the people of Denmark heard the joyous news that their long night of Nazi occupation had ended.

For five terrible years, the occupiers had forbidden outside lights, and required Danes to hang blackout curtains in their homes. Those long, dark nights became synonymous with the cruel Nazi occupation of their homeland.

On the night of May 4, however, they heard the joyous news that Germany had surrendered, and the next day they burned those blackout curtains in the streets to celebrate the return of light—literal light, but also the light of freedom.

Since then, the Danes light candles in their windows every May 4th as a way to remember light’s return, even though most people living now were not witness to that darkness.

Those candles call them to remember. To remember the sorrow. To remember the joy.

I am the light of the world,” Jesus said. We celebrate the light of his coming every Christmas. And still, as John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light”, Isaiah prophesied about his coming. “On those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”A great light indeed, birthed in a darkened stable, destined to illuminate the way home to a city of light for countless millions of us who have tipped our candles to his, now sharing his bright flame.

Our world at times struggles to remember the lessons of those dark times of Nazism eighty years ago. Fewer and fewer candles are lit in Denmark’s windows as time goes by, and other reminders also fade, their warnings of what is possible now overlooked in the heat of our current crises.

Perhaps we should all light candles to remind ourselves what is possible when we are not vigilant, and what is the reality in too many places around the world today.

I am half Danish, and I will light a candle in my window tomorrow night in solidarity with my ancestors. I also light it to remember not just one joyous night in Denmark, but also the coming of the true light into the world, for all of us.

That light still burns bright in every corner of this troubled planet, and nothing—not war, not disaster, not any manner of evil or suffering—has ever been able to snuff it out. Nor will it ever. Hallelujah.

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

2 Peter 1:19