The holiday season rushes by in a whirlwind of activity. There are projects to finish at school, end-of-year events to attend, parties to enjoy, and winter break plans to make. Yet, tucked between the busyness, the season invites us to pause, to reflect, and to slow down. In Germany, this time of anticipation is celebrated through Advent, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

On the first Sunday of Advent, over a thousand scouts gathered in Linz, Austria, for a very special occasion: the arrival of the Peace Light. This is no ordinary flame. It comes all the way from Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Each year, a child from Austria journeys to Bethlehem to receive the light, which is then shared at a grand church service back home. From there, scouts carry it across borders, spreading a symbol of hope and peace throughout Europe.

For us, the Scouts of Troop 44, Thursday, December 18, was a day to take part in this remarkable tradition. We hosted our own Peace Light ceremony, sharing the flame that had traveled from Bethlehem. Our den chief, Willam, brought the light to us at the Stuttgart train station, after receiving it from scouts who had journeyed to Austria. Together, we carried the flame through our ceremony, each flicker of light a reminder of the hope and unity it represents.

The Peace Light is more than a candle. It is a symbol of peace. It reminds us that, no matter the challenges in the world, we can come together as scouts, as neighbors, and as human beings. It celebrates the bonds that connect us across religions, races, and backgrounds. As we passed the flame from one to another, we reflected on the importance of peace in our own lives and in our community.

Even amid the holiday hustle, the glow of the Peace Light invites us to pause and remember: peace begins with each of us. And through this tradition, we hope to keep that light shining brightly, year after year, in our troop and in the wider world.