To be the light

Dear friend,

The time has come
for each of us
to be the light.

Why?

Because darkness
is descending on America.

Every day
it descends further.

You can see it.
You can feel it.

It’s not dark yet,
but it’s gettin’ there.
Dylan

Turning away

This government

(I won’t honor it
with the word American)

has turned away
from those who suffer.

Turned away
from the hungry
the sick
the war torn.

Turned away
from millions of beautiful children
and their families

in Ukraine
in the Middle East

in Africa
Asia
and throughout the world.

Totally abandoned them.

Left them
to starve
and to die.

We are needed

This government’s violation
of all humane principles

is shameful
disgraceful
and cruel beyond words.

You and I are called
to do all we can
to stop this cruelty.

We are called
to take the necessary actions.

We are called
to give love and compassion
to our fellow human beings.

We are called
to bring hope
to each person we can.

We are called
to be the light
to the best of our capacity

in every conversation
every online message

every word
we use to describe
our fellow human beings.

If we hear ourselves
referring to our neighbors

our family members
our fellow Americans

with contempt

calling them “maggats”
or other dehumanizing words

it is time we recognize
how low we have sunk.

My friend,
we cannot stop
the hateful cruelty
inflicted by others

unless we put a stop
to our own.

Our vow

As Pink Floyd sings:

On the turning away
From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say
Which we won't understand

Don't accept that what's happening
Is just a case of others' suffering
Or you'll find that you're joining in
The turning away

It's a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting its shroud
Over all we have known

Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that we're all alone
In the dream of the proud

On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite in a silent accord

Using words, you will find, are strange
Mesmerised as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night

No more turning away
From the weak and the weary

No more turning away
From the coldness inside

Just a world that we all must share
It's not enough just to stand and stare

Is it only a dream that there'll be
No more turning away?

To become able

You and I must
become able
to not turn away.

We must keep
the promise of America:

to serve humanity
by building freedom
for us ALL.

To become able
to be the light
in our country

we must first overcome
the darkness
within our own mind.

The constructive part
of our mind

must win
its continuous battle

against the lies
and destructive attacks

coming at us
from within our mind
and from the outer world.

We must reject
all cruel ideas.

Our own
and those of others.

Cruel ideas
induce fear
helplessness
and despair.

We must reject cruel ideas
so we cannot
be used and destroyed

by dark minds
and sick ideologies.

We must shift
the balance of power
in favor of life and freedom

both within our own minds
and within our country.

Light is spiritual

Because light is spiritual
we need sources
of spiritual strength.

There are many beautiful sources
for us to draw from.

Religions and literature
music and art
are full of spiritual strength.

Here is a passage I love
from the Bible
(John 12:35-36)

Jesus said to them:

The light is with you for a little longer.
Walk while you have the light,
lest the darkness overtake you;

he who walks in darkness
does not know where he goes.

While you have the light,
believe in the light,
that you may become sons of light.

Quakers speak of Inward Light.

They see Inward Light
as the direct awareness of God

that allows a person
to know God’s will for him or her.

They believe
God is in every man

and that having Inward Light
should lead to working
for the good of others.

As Emerson wrote:

The man is only half himself,
the other half is his expression.
…
we are not pans and barrows,

nor even porters of the fire
and torch bearers,

but children of the fire,

made of it.

The flame that is us

We freedom lovers
have hearts
that burn with love
for all humanity.

We are deeply grateful
for life.

We feel deep compassion
for those in pain.

We forgive others
and we forgive ourselves.

We listen and learn
from those with different views.

We work closely and well
with all kinds of people

to build a future
of liberty and justice
for all.

Forgiving is hard

It is hard to forgive others
who differ with us.

We need to remember
that all persons–
including ourselves–

are both constructive
and destructive.

The balance is different
in each of us.

But all of us
are both.

It takes humility
to not see ourselves
as superior

to this other person
who sees things differently.

It takes humility
for us
to stop judging them.

To stop debating
negating
and disdaining.

And instead just listen.

Listen with respect
for something they understand
that we do not.

Every person you know
has a piece of the truth.

Every person
who is not a hellbent killer
is made of at least
a little bit of light.

We must listen for it!

Find the light
in each soul!

Then join their light
with our own

to build freedom
for us both.

This is what it takes

This is what it takes
to be the light.

This is what it takes
to hold each other
in the light.

This is how
we create
new paths together.

As we do this
the light will shine
from our eyes.

Right there
for everyone to see.

We will light up the room.

One room at a time
we will light up our country.

The forces of freedom
in America

have always
ultimately prevailed
over the ranks of doom.

We will hold strong.

As Paul Dundas writes

It is a little dark still,
but there are warnings of the day
and somewhere out of the darkness
a bird is singing to the Dawn.

Blessings,

Dr. Hall