Holes in the Darkness

Remember the story of George Bailey? He's the character of note in that classic It's a Wonderful Life. It was Christmas Eve, George is standing on the bridge, staring into the icy water, and feeling his life was a failure. He'd been an example of light in a dark world, but he felt it was a wasted effort. Then appeared that angel named Clarence. He's trying to earn his wings (like some of the rest of us) and he showed George what his hometown of Bedford Falls would have been like without George's light. His brother would have died, if not for George. His wife would have been a lonely spinster, if not for George. And greedy Mr. Potter would have destroyed all the good in town, if not for George.

One man's life touches so many others. When he's not there, it leaves an awfully big hole. So said Clarence the angel.

The lesson is timeless. Shine brightly. Be a candle in the darkness. One Jesus of Nazareth taught the same thing. Edward Everett Hale put it right, too. I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something . . . I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

Come to think of it, every person has influence and yours is probably much bigger than you think it is or will ever realize. Think about who has had a bright light shining for you – a parent who believed in you, a teacher who challenged you, a coach who motivated you, a friend who stood beside you. I know. Because light from somebody else has happened to me.

I think we should just simply act as if what we do makes a difference. Because it does. And it really doesn’t take a whole lot to brighten your world – a positive word, a simple smile, a good deed. In the end, example is not the main thing in influencing others. It’s the only thing. Words are powerful, but I have come to believe that people are changed more by the light of example than by anything else.

Everybody needs light. Light wakes us up, ignites us, energizes us. Light gives us life. It chases away darkness. It opens up a world of possibilities.

Light is warmth. A smile, a hug, a compliment, a positive attitude, a simple gift, or an encouraging conversation provides light that warms somebody all the way through. I’d just offer up that if the world seems cold to you (and it probably is), try kindling some fires to keep warm.

Living a good life of love, generosity, and kindness is to be a light in a world of greed and selfishness. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Oh, the immortal words of Shakespeare himself.

So, all along the way each of us is like a candle. Many have never been lit or have been blown out. Others are a mere spark or are flickering. Only a few shine brightly enough to light the world and pass that light on to others.

In a world of darkness, light makes a big difference. People like to have some light, even if they may squint when they see it. Let’s get this right. To shine takes more than well-intentioned words. Don’t just talk about light; produce some.

It’s not at all a political statement, but the statement of a lighted life. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a light. As a leader of the civil rights movement, he was beaten, kicked, and pummeled with eggs and rocks. He was spit at, thrown into jail, humiliated, and threatened, but he refused to retaliate. No matter how unfairly treated or abused, Dr. King was consistent in his light – his words and actions. Do to us what you will, and we will still love you. Throw us into jail, and we will still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children, and we will still love you. Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our communities at the midnight hours, and drag us out on some wayside road and beat us and leave us half dead; and as difficult as it is, we will still love you.

The words of Dr. King march on like a beacon in the night.

Light will be remembered. When asked how he’d like to be remembered, the same MLK thought that when people mentioned his name, he’d hope they’d think that he tried to give his life serving others . . . to love somebody . . . to feed the hungry . . . to clothe those who were naked . . . to visit those who were in prison . . . to love and serve humanity. He learned that from one Jesus of Nazareth. Not immortal words, but eternal words.

In the end, lights put holes in the darkness. Find a hole and fill it with light.