I am not the only one, it seems, for light seems to be a topic of reflection for many these days.
For example, every month this past year I received as a gift a lovely handlettered quotation, which I displayed on a small easel on my desk. The theme was light.
No one lights a lamp in order to
hide it behind door: the purpose of
light is to create more light,
to open people's eyes, to reveal the marvels around.
Paul Coelho
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light
can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love
can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
In addition I subscribed this year to monthly pamphlets from Joan Chittister's "The Monastic Way" series. The theme for January is "You are the light of the world." Matthew 5:14, and each day offers brief thoughts for reflection.
The world
is saved one light at a time until the path
is ablaze
with the way to tomorrow. But it will not
happen
until I myself become a light, until I myself
am willing
to say the truth into the darkness. Then,
only then,
the world really changes.
Dark times are only a call to do life better than we have
been
doing. 'Give light,' Erasmus wrote, 'and the darkness
will
disappear of itself.'
Give
light.
We
live in challenging times, not just interesting times. Many of us
have felt the darkness creeping out of the shadows and crowding out
our hopes and dreams, replacing them with fear. President Obama in
his farewell address said to be "vigilant, but not afraid."
We
need light, in order to be vigilant. We can't see what we can't see.
Give
light. Be light. PS: As a reminder to give light, be light, I have added a string of white lights around the window in my garret. Let there be light!
An
Invitation
How
will you be the light? I would love to know.
Resources:
lettergirlThe Monastic Way
Nancy,
ReplyDeleteI love the string of white lights around your garret window! As for me, in this season of what I experience as almost unbearable darkness, I will continue to live out the words of a song I learned as a child many years ago, and which children of today still sing, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”
My light shines from my heart through my love for my family and friends; through my smiling eyes when encountering people who serve me, like the cashier at the grocery store; in my actions through activist outreach, like joining the Women’s March in DC this weekend; through service to my community, from assisting a neighbor in need to working on community boards and committees; and through my financial donations to organizations that help people all around the globe.
These are small acts in the grand scheme of things, but I believe that if I perform them in a conscious, mindful, light-filled and loving way, they will have a positive effect. I hope!