Where there is darkness, let me sow light
Darkness is threatening. Darkness—whether physical, psychological, spiritual, emotional, or social—disturbs and perturbs us, sometimes to our very core. But just like a single candle pierces the darkness of the night, a single person can pierce the darkness in our world.
Just look at Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani school girl who stood up to the Taliban to defend her right to an education. Even after being targeted and shot in the head, she did not extinguish her light. Instead, she shared it by writing a book (after she recovered) that became an international sensation. She is a beacon of light within the darkness of oppression.
While our light may not be as dramatic as Malala’s, all of us have the responsibility to shine the light of truth, love, compassion, and justice in our little corner of the world. It can be something as simple as: refusing to engage in disparaging conversations about those who think, believe, or look differently; smiling at strangers; being attentive to a child without any electronic distraction; making dinner when it’s not your turn because your spouse is tired; or remaining calm and sending peaceful energy out to fellow drivers stuck in traffic.
Sowing light also means looking for it in others. It may be obscured by the darkness of many wounds. Or it may be hard for us to see because it’s not what we expect. Or perhaps we simply refuse to see their light so that we don’t disturb our own agenda. But the light is there because we all emanate from the same Source whose Light is in us all.
Do I see and embrace my light?
Do I see and embrace the light in others?
Am I intentional about shining in the darkness around me?
Today’s musical version of the Prayer of St. Francis comes from Singh Kaur
Opening and closing prayers and more reflection questions for the Novena of Peace