Dear Friends,

The light from the sun is getting to us in smaller and smaller amounts as we await the holiday seasons coming up. It has been rainy and dim off and on all week. Some of us fight off naturally-caused depression or seasonal affective disorder.  Some have lost loved ones this year and are dreading the first holidays. Some just feel sad.  Right now the amount of compassion being shown by our government is minimal as we see families split up and know that many are going unfed.  Like searching for the God in all other beings regardless of their demeanor or behavior, we must also search for the good that is around us and in us, and be that source of good. 

What can love do?  Those are the words of William Penn.  When speaking of a society  that looked very much like ours now, Penn focused on the love that is still there in every person.  The full quote is “Let us then try what Love will do: For if [people] did once see we Love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains.”  How do we let love gain?  How do we find the positive hidden in this moment by the abnormal situations going on of this nation?

Thanksgiving is coming up, and we all have much for which to be grateful.  But let us feel the sadness too that is caused by this lack of compassion shown in and by our society.  May it bring us all to prayer and a promise from ourselves to be sources of that goodness and love that is needed.  So what can love do right now?  What positive things can you do to show this love?  Maybe start with yourself and feel that compassion for yourself and be gentle with yourself as this is not a normal time but a sad time for many.  Love you some you. It makes loving others second nature.

How can we commit to being lights in the darkness?   There is a time to trim the wicks of a lamp, and this might be your time to just sit with the feelings of what is going on around us.  But if you choose to sit in the dark, don’t forget that light does exist. It is in us and in others, even our enemies.  So again, I ask, “What can love do?”  How do we answer that question in this world right now?

Leigh