Ripples #1386: Lasting Light
Dec 15, 2025
PEBBLE
What is one person’s life compared to the eternity of time and space? Nothing but a snowflake that glitters in the sun before melting into the flow of time.
~Osamu Tezuka, shared by Teresa in Cincinnati, OH (via One Year Wiser)
BOULDER
Don’t define yourself by the prestige of the institution you are attending, your vocation, the challenges you encounter, or any other external factor. These things are temporary. Who you are, how you treat others, and the impact you leave – that’s what lasts.
~Daniela Preda, shared by Craig in Cincinnati, OH (who appreciated this line from her High School Class of 2025 Graduation Speech)
PONDER
When I first read Tezuka’s snowflake line, it stopped me cold (pun intended). The idea that a single life—my life—could be nothing more than a momentary shimmer in the vastness of time and space feels both unsettling and oddly freeing. There’s a quiet truth in it: none of us gets to stay here long, and none of us controls the flow of time.
But here’s what softens the chill: even a snowflake glitters before it melts. For just a heartbeat, it catches the light and reflects it outward. Maybe that’s the invitation—not to grasp for permanence, but to shine kindly while we’re here.
And then Daniela’s wise words in today’s Boulder bring this idea home: the titles we earn, the roles we hold, even the challenges we endure—all of that stuff eventually fades. What lasts is how we show up for each other. A kind word offered. A bit of grace extended. A ripple of encouragement sent into someone’s weary day. Those are the glimmers that linger long after our moment has passed.
So this week, let’s keep it simple: shine right where you are and offer your warmth freely. Trust that even when the world doesn’t notice your sparkle, it’s still true that your lasting light is already weaving itself into eternity.
Peace,
Paul
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