Where is the light shining today? Does all look dark, with no end in sight? Sometimes you just have to admit it; life can be depressing. But we need to find ways to look for the light and lift each other up.
Let’s get personal
Normally I refrain from sharing much of my personal emotional status, but this time I will make an exception. Because these are exceptional times we are living in. It has been therapeutic for me to write in my journal, and you might like to try admitting to yourself some of the unusual thoughts or emotions you may be having. Just getting it from your head to paper takes some of the weight off.
Here are a few things I’m journaling about these days:
Stress and fatigue of moving across the country: Packing, loading pods and our van, driving 6 days, unloading the pods and moving in, setting up a new household, transferring addresses, accounts, driver’s and car licenses…. Sometimes just plain fatigue can feel like depression, and writing it down disburses the effect.
Culture shock finally setting in: Even when you land in a place that’s better for your well-being, it takes some adjustment for any major change. Again, writing about it, especially the changes that are good ones, can help.
Fear of current events
I might be able to cope with the others better if it weren’t for this one. And this is also the one that might be causing problems for you.
On Nov. 5th, halfway through our drive from California to Alabama, we were in a hotel in Oklahoma when the election results came in. What a terrible thing to wake up to. We were so shocked, we didn’t speak about it for a whole day. A setback of 4 years feels different at 74 years old than it might to a younger person. It’s hard to imagine climbing out of this hole when I’m 78 years old. So I will focus on the present – what can I do today to make a difference? I will look for the light wherever I am.
All is not lost.
Let’s find LIGHT and HOPE wherever we can.
Maybe gazing at these golden clouds in the photo above will help you get started. This photo was taken at sunset, but I like to think of it as a sunrise. Think of the darkness all around, and the light peeking through, stronger than the darkness. Even the tiny light of a candle can light up a room.
Shine your light
I hope we can all find ways to be a light in the darkness. Small acts of kindness, even a smile can light up someone’s day.
Sing a song, or listen to music
Songs are a wonderful way to let the love of God wash over you. One song that has been lifting me up lately is this one:
I cry out, for your hand of mercy to heal me, I am weak – I need your love to free me.
Oh Lord, my rock, my strength in weakness, come rescue me, Oh Lord.
You are my rock, your promise never fails me
And my desire is to follow you forever.
For you are good, for you are good, for you are good to me.
(repeat, as many times as you need)*
Look for the light, even if it’s a small one.
Think of the cloud that Elijah’s servant saw, as small as a man’s hand, and then the rains came. (I Kings 18:44) Be the light wherever you are.
*There are lots of recordings of this song on YouTube if you’d like to hear it.
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