Carrying the Light to Our Guests

In January, Well of Mercy hosted our annual Wintering retreat led by the one and only Brenda Wallace. Prior to retreatants arriving, Brenda sent each staff member out to the guest rooms carrying battery-operated candles and strict instructions to “light” them. What an honor to carry the light to our guests! And what a nice surprise for our guests—there is something warm and inviting about candlelight.

Finding Light in a Dark World

Where are you surprised by the light these days? We know the things that have gone dim—the situations that worry us, trouble us, and anger us—the violence and threats of violence in the news. Where do we find light? We know where the shadows are—the people who get on our nerves and the way we feel when we interact with them. Where do we find God’s light these days? Where are we finding places to soak in that light? Spiritually, these are important moments to notice.

Choosing Light Over Shadows

If we immerse ourselves in stories of despair and destruction, we will become overwhelmed. If all we hear is bad news and blame, we will be overcome. So we have to search out the light and place ourselves right in the middle of it. For what it’s worth, I can tell you a few places where I’m finding light.

Light in Simple Moments

A few minutes of morning silence. Often, when I close my eyes, it’s still dark outside. When I open them again, the light has come! I also find light in creating things—cards, paintings, poetry, music. When we immerse ourselves in creativity, we forget ourselves, and light gets in.

Light comes when I take walks and notice scratchy trees lifting themselves to the evening sky. Reading a well-written sentence brings light. Remembering to say thank you brings light. Doing something for someone else brings light. Graciously allowing someone to do something for me brings light. Turning my attention toward how I can bless another person’s life brings light. These things don’t fix everything that’s wrong in the world, but they remind me that I have a choice every day: I can live in the light, or I can deepen the shadows.

Shining Light Together

I’m not discounting the state of the world—I’m simply offering the reminder that light shines in the darkness. And as we find ways to place ourselves where we can soak in that light, we may discover that we begin to shine it too—and the world becomes a brighter place.

I look forward to seeing you soon at Well of Mercy. Rest assured that we will leave the light on for you!

Lea Slaton
Executive Directo