Light Up The Darkness

I've been thinking things over and over and over this week. Boston. Texas. Accidents. Attacks. Natural disasters. The world collapsing around us. It's a lot to take in. It's a lot to digest.

I'm not good at digesting these things. These situations are the times where I want to fix everything. I want to protect those who need protection and shield the eyes of the innocent. I want to cry with the mourning and defend the helpless. Despite myself, I want to seek retribution, I want to punch those responsible for the pain and suffering and haul them off to their jail cell.

Instead, I sit at home and try not to dwell on what's happened. Because I simply can't comprehend what's occurred. My mind freezes and my words get tangled up.

Thankfully, I don't need to remain frozen and I can begin to formulate words again. In spite of all the pain and suffering and unnecessary evil in the world, there's something that can be done. Actually, there's lots of somethings that can be done. Here's a small list of those things: laughter, joy, selflessness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, redemption, patience, understanding, sacrifice.

There's still goodness in the world. Regardless of the darkness, light always breaks through. Have you ever noticed how darkness can't pierce the light? I'm serious - it can't. It's physically impossible for darkness to break through lightness. The light, however, can shatter the dark.

Here's another thing: when it's pitch black and you can's see a thing, ever notice how even the faintest of light - like a flickering candle - can brighten the entire place you're standing in?

Go into the darkest places and illuminate everything.

Be the light.