Let Your Light Shine Day 1

“Light shines through the darkness for the upright: gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

They shall not fear an ill report; their hearts are steadfast, trusting the LORD. Their hearts are tranquil, without fear.” Psalm 112: 4 & 7, 8

In this bizarre new world that we have entered into, I think it is important for us to take a look back at the ancient wisdom that can be found in the Psalms and Proverbs of the Bible. As the cliche says, “history repeats itself.” In these difficult times, that might be a great comfort for us. Our ancestors certainly faced many challenges, from war, to disease, to enslavement by a foreign entity. How did they cope? How did they survive their turmoil? It is recorded for us in ancient scriptures from around the globe. 

To cope with the uncertainty, I have decided to put myself on a 21-day meditation challenge. Everyday for the next three weeks, I am going to find and meditate on a Psalm or Proverb that gives hope to overcome fear and anxiety. I will share these meditations on my blog for whoever else may need some ancient words of encouragement. My hope is that by reflecting on the words of people who did overcome terrible challenges centuries ago, I will find the energy and hope that I need to try to thrive in our current coronavirus crisis. 

Today’s Psalm declares that “light shines through the darkness for the upright.”  It then explains for us what “upright” looks like: “gracious, compassionate, and righteous.” These are the characteristics that we need to embody in trying times in order to “shine.” However, these terms are not necessarily used on a regular basis. What does it really look like if one is “gracious”? Webster’s dictionary gives several possible interpretations of this word. For one, it describes a person who is “marked by kindness.” Another meaning describes a gracious person as “characterized by charm, ...and generosity of spirit.” These are certainly the ideals that would be helpful to see in others during a crisis! However, I am reminded of the words of Gandhi, “be the change you want to see in the world.” If I want to experience kindness, charm, and generosity of spirit in the people around me, I must first give it to them.

Light shines through the darkness for people who are “compassionate.” This may be the most powerful characteristic that we could embody in this time of crisis in order to help ourselves and others thrive. Again the dictionary definition explains compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others' distress, together with a desire to alleviate it.” We are all on edge! Every day more and more of the simple freedoms that we used to enjoy are stripped away from us “until further notice” from the government. Instead of being short and angry with each other in this situation, we need to see the distress we are all experiencing and look for ways to alleviate it. 

Finally, “righteous” people shine in darkness. This is an even more archaic word that has a loaded connotation for many people raised in strict religious environments. However, when truly broken down, it basically defines someone who is “morally good,” or someone who tries to do the “right” thing when faced with a challenge. Webster’s kids definition of “righteous” says that it is “doing or being what is just or proper.” For example, when we try our best to follow the new, very restrictive laws of “social distancing,” we are being righteous, because we are trying to stop the spread of disease for the greater good of all. 

What does the Psalm tell us happens for the “upright” in times of trouble? It says that they will not fear bad news (“an ill report”). It says that “their hearts are tranquil, without fear.” That is definitely encouraging! There is SO much bad news these days, that I don’t even want to turn on the TV. I certainly want a tranquil, peaceful heart that is free from fear. According to the ancient wisdom of this Psalm, I can achieve this goal through my actions. If we remain kind, sympathetic, and good during these challenging times, we can experience peace. 

And so I pray, and I hope you will join me in this prayer: 

 “Holy Spirit, fill me with your kindness, compassion, and goodness. Help me to act uprightly around everyone that I meet today. Through my actions, give me the gift of peace and freedom from fear, so that I can shine light in the darkness around me. Amen.”