The Gospel of John records Jesus telling a crowd, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This — sharing the light of eternal life — is the true meaning of Christmas. It is one reason we light our Christmas trees and our homes in the dark of winter. Tomorrow, for the first time, New Hampshire can share this light in an incredibly special way.

At the Bedford Presbyterian Church (4 Church Road, Bedford) from 1-4 p.m., Boy Scout Troop 414 will be sharing with anyone who comes a candle. From that candle burns a flame brought all the way to New Hampshire from a little town halfway across the world. The town of Bethlehem.

Gretchen Osgood of Bedford, a den leader in Cub Scout Pack 114, arranged to have this flame, known as the Peace Light, brought to New Hampshire for the first time. It was collected from the Bethlehem grotto where Jesus was born, brought to Europe by Scouts from Austria, flown to New York City, and driven to Bedford to be shared with the people of New Hampshire.

Christmas is not about sharing material things. It is about sharing the light of the world. If you stop by the little town of Bedford tomorrow afternoon, you can share with your friends, your loved ones, your community the light that has been kept by believers for centuries. What better way to celebrate Christmas?