“When day comes we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?” These words were written by Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in US history, as part of her eloquent and stirring poem ‘The Hill We Climb'. Those opening words have echoed in my mind as the past few days have dawned and as I have certainly asked that same question, for with each new day has come further shade cast upon the world by the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan. From my conversations with staff and residents here in our community, I know that many others have also struggled to find light amidst that compounding sadness as we have watched yet another multifaceted catastrophe unfold before our eyes.
And so, Amanda Gorman's question remains. Where can we find light in the seeming never ending shade of problems which the globe currently faces? Over the past few days I have found myself returning to words written by John Henry Newman in 1833 which perhaps you will recognize with its opening words, which form the title of the hymn of the same name; “Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom, lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me.”
Newman doesn't shy away from the problems and difficulties of life. In fact, he bluntly states that it can feel as though we are at times encircled by gloom. And yet his words are a prayer not for supernatural problem solving, nor even to grasp the entirety and complexity of whatever befalls us, but simply for the guidance and support to simply take one more step forward on our pilgrimage of life. ‘One step enough for me'. Sufficient grace for the present, is all he asks. And perhaps when the weight of the world seems to lay particularly heavily that's all we can ask for, and all that we need. For therein we find enough light to take the next step. And the one after that. And with each step to see further light and hope as we journey by faith so that we ourselves may then become the bearers of that same light for others. Amanda Gorman ends her poem with these words ‘For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it'. Lead on then O kindly light of God, that we may make you known, even amidst the gloom.
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