PEBBLE
Our actions entrench the power of the light on this planet. Every positive thought we pass between us makes room for more light.
~John Lewis, shared by Janelle in Cedar Falls, IA
BOULDER
The shadows of this world will say—
There’s no hope why try anyway?
But every kindness large or slight—
shifts the balance toward the Light…
When justice seems in short supply,
lean in toward the Light.
~Carrie Newcomer , from the song Lean in Toward the Light via Friends of Silence
PONDER
Have you ever had a thing happen, a big, hard, yucky thing that unexpectedly plops down in the middle of your life and messes everything up? Something so big and so hard that it forces you to deal with stuff that you never thought you’d have to deal with, and to be stronger than you ever thought you could be? Well, I have a friend who’s going through that right now. I’ve been there, too, and I bet you know what I mean when I say: It. Sucks.
My friend has found herself on an arduous, complicated journey that she wishes could be measured in days and weeks even though deep down she knows her healing and growth will more likely be measured in months and years. She is doing all the right things: leaning on existing sources of support, seeking out new ones, and discovering over and over again that moments of joy are still available.
I can’t stamp out all the yuck she’s dealing with right now, just like I can’t eliminate all the yuck that the world is dealing with right now. Over and over and over I have to remind myself: just because I can’t fix everything doesn’t mean I can’t do something. So I send her random texts, I listen when she needs to vent, and I remind us both that storm clouds are weather systems and not the whole sky.
If you’re struggling today, I hope you’ll consider taking one deep breath (HERE on the inhale, NOW on the exhale) and then one more. See if you can think of one source of light to lean into right now. And if you’re doing ok these days, please keep your eyes open for someone in your orbit who may be counting on you to be their light.
Why? Because every single time we act on our impulse to bring a little more kindness into the world, we shine a tiny little light into someone’s tunnel.
Your. Light. Matters.
Peace,
Paul