Today is Veterans Day. A day that marks the end of World War I and is set aside to celebrate those who have served to protect our country.
Right now, our nation is in the throes of a dark and divisive moment in our history. Many are scared, others are defensive, and our nation seems to be splitting at the seams. Friends and family divided.
Yet, I endeavor to see the light. On Wednesday morning, I woke up to darkness, fear, and confusion, but that evening God reminded me to see the light.
As I joined a fellow group of runners that evening, chasing the sunset and running though the dark streets illuminated by headlights and street lights, I was reminded that light will always be stronger than darkness.
In a time seemingly filled with darkness and hate, I was reminded that light and love stand triumphant, as found in the words of these wise men:
“Good is stronger than evil; love is stronger than hate; light is stronger than darkness; life is stronger than death. Victory is ours, through him who loves us.” – Desmond Tutu
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr
Scripture describes Jesus as the light and us as agents of that light, bringing hope to a broken word—testifying to His grace and serving as His hands and feet.
Stepping into the light, I am reminded of the things that make America great—that make her worth protecting in spite of the ugliness and brokenness that we feel at the present moment. Under our Constitution, we are given the right to commune in civil society, to share common interests and pursue them together in community. We are given the right to practice our own beliefs, and to voice our dissent, freely without fear of government opposition—a luxury not found in many places around the world. It is this right that enabled my students to gather together after school today and pray for their friends and for their community openly.
Our job as agents of the light is to help usher in the Kingdom of God, to share glimpses of His goodness, to shine light into the dark places, bring hope to the hopeless, and justice for the oppressed. This can be done regardless of our governmental structure or who is elected to power. The change begins with us, and we cannot do this divided.
Let us seek reconciliation. Let us seek justice. Let us seek light.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
-John 1:4-5
