Light and Dark

This world is full of light and dark or heavy and light which ever way you feel like putting. There is the literal sense of the night sky and the day sky or a feather and a car but it is also in other things.

Everyday there is life and death. Sometimes death can be light. Someone going home to be with the Father or a pet being put out of agony. But it can also be very dark. Like what happened in Colorado in the wee hours this morning.

When things like what happened in Colorado happen it makes people reflect on their lives and for a few moments think of all the things they are thankful for instead of all the things they want to change. I don't want to dwell on what happened today in Colorado. I feel like the news does that enough and I wish only peace and comfort for the victims and their families and for the person responsible to get the proper help that they need. Repeating everything that has already been said is only making the people that already lived it have to re-live it again. That is not fair to make them re-live a horrific moment in their lives just for the sake of ratings.

So onto the light.

Today is my cousin's 8th birthday. I spent Wednesday and Thursday with him and his sister. Wednesday we went to see the movie Brave and Thursday we went skating at Roller World. It is interesting for me to see him grow. Two summers ago I watched him and his sister for the summer. He was turning 6 that year and going into first grade. Now he is turning 8 and going into 3rd grade. Crazy how times flies by you. He and his sister haven't had the easiest past 3 years. But despite all the obstacles he has had to face he is still an 8 year old boy. He loves Avengers, baseball, reading, roller blading, and Justin Timberlake (yeah, that last one is my fault). He has an imagination that runs wild. He loves to tell stories and he will one day, be a pro baseball player and rockstar and make a lot of money (at least that is what he told me the last time I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up). I love talking to him because his imagination is so extensive and we are a lot alike. I swear when I would watch him play baseball, it was like looking at a mini me in the outfield because, he was the kid spinning in circles singing his own little tune and messing with his hat. He is a great kid and I am excited to see who he grows into being as he gets older.

The world is filled with light and dark or heavy and light.

Everyday something dark/heavy happens. Whether it makes the news or not it still happens. Whether it is in Colorado, Mexico, Pakistan, or Texas it happens. It is horrible and I do not like that every single day there is hate and violence in this world and that people think it is okay.

On the flip side, everyday something light happens. There is a little hope brought into this world. Whether it is an 8 year old's birthday or the birth of a beautiful baby girl last week. Everyday something happens to give me hope for a better tomorrow. Another year on this Earth to make it a better place. Another child brought into this world to two of the most loving and accepting people I have ever had the privilege of calling friends. (Miss Delia you are one lucky lady to have Rob and Caroline as your mama and daddy. They will love you to the ends of the Earth and back and give you the most amazing home you could ever thank God for.)

I hope that one day the light will cover the dark. That we will someday see that violence, hate, intolerance, racism, discrimination, and bigotry will get us no where good in life. I hope that we can see that love, acceptance, peace, grace, mercy, and hope are the greatest things we can give to each other. Where does hate take you? No where good. But, hope soars across the skies and the oceans like a rainbow after a storm with vibrant colors only seen by the heart.

I hope peace and acceptance is brought to those who need it. I hope love, grace, mercy, and hope are found to those who have been searching for it.

When dark things happen. When the only thing on television is the horrors that people do to each other, try to find something light. Whether it is the story of someone doing something selfless or a picture or a puppy. Or an 8 year old's birthday or the birth of a beautiful baby. There is so much good happening in the world. Go find it. And keep those who are stuck in darkness for whatever reason close to your hearts and prayers for they need them just as much or more than any one else.