Light

Light is one of the most universal and fundamental symbols. It is about the spiritual and the divine. It is illumination and intelligence. Light overpowers darkness in the physical realm. The photons in light can dispel darkness, but darkness cannot dispel light. This same principle applies spiritually, as the light of hope is always stronger than the darkness of discouragement and despair. All major religious holidays use light to celebrate the power of spiritual hope: Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Nawruz... In today’s world, we have much to despair about but we also have much to hope for! Let’s light a candle and dedicate it to what we want to see or commit to in our lives!

“So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole earth.” – Baha’u’llah  “Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.”-L.R. Knost  “Love is light in whatsoever house it may shine.” -Abdu’l-Baha  “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is the light in the heart.” – K. Gibran “O Son of Being! With the hands of power, I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light.” - Bahá'u'lláh  “All the teaching of the Prophets is one; one faith; one Divine light shining throughout the world. Now, under the banner of the oneness of humanity, all people of all creeds should turn away from prejudice and become friends and believers in all the Prophets.” -Abdu’l-Baha“In every case, the army of light vanquished the powers of darkness on the battlefield of the world, and the radiance of the Divine Teaching illumined the earth. Those who accepted the Teaching and worked for the Cause of God became luminous stars in the sky of humanity.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá   “Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space.  It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe.  It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished.” -Author Unknown   “Light is good from whatever lamp it shines.” -Abdu'l-Baha  “The sun, a radiant orb, emanating light and warmth. A luminous king who rules the day, shining a blinding light at noon, and a soft glow at sunset, blistering heat in July and a welcome, comforting warmth in January. It is the most consistent element in the world, appearing each day in the east, where it begins its daily march across the sky to set in the west - a symbol of God's benevolence.”  - Author Unknown   “God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, "The Kingdom is God's", may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.” -Bahá'u'lláh “…. just as the solar cycle has its four seasons, the cycle of the Sun of Reality has its distinct and successive periods. Each brings its vernal season or springtime. When the Sun of Reality returns to quicken the world of mankind a divine bounty descends from the heaven of generosity. The realm of thoughts and ideals is set in motion and blessed with new life. Minds are developed, hopes brighten, aspirations become spiritual, the virtues of the human world appear with freshened power of growth and the image and likeness of God become visible in man. It is the springtime of the inner world. After the spring, summer comes with its fullness and fruitage spiritual!” -Abdu'l-Baha  “A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home.”   - Author Unknown  “The sun is the life-giver to the physical bodies of all creatures upon the earth; without its warmth, their growth would be stunted, their development would be arrested, they would decay and die. Even so, do the souls of men need the Sun of Truth to shed its rays upon their souls, to develop them, to educate and encourage them. As the sun is to the body of a man so is the Sun of Truth to his soul.” -Abdu'l-Baha  “A man may have attained to a high degree of material progress, but without the light of truth, his soul is stunted and starved. Another man may have no material gifts, may be at the bottom of the social ladder, but, having received the warmth of the Sun of Truth his soul is great and his spiritual understanding is enlightened.” -Abdu'l-Baha  “He that has light within his own clear breast
May sit in the centre, and enjoy bright day:
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts
Benighted walks under the mid-day sun;
Himself his own dungeon.
John Milton  “Man must be a lover of the light no matter from what day-spring it may appear. He must be a lover of the rose no matter in what soil it may be growing. He must be a seeker of the truth no matter from what source it come. “‘Abdu'l-Baha  “Shed the light of a boundless love on every human being whom you meet, whether of your country, your race, your political party, or of any other nation, color or shade of political opinion.” – Abdu’l-Baha  “God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, “the Kingdom is God’s”, may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.” - Bahá’u’lláh “Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart that is cold. Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the sorrowful. In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than the power of love” - Abdu'l-Bahá   

Reflections

1. What can stop you from living a life filled with light & warmth?
2. How do you know when a moment is sacred?
3. What does bringing light to the world look like for you?
4. How might you see world events with the eye of the spirit?
5. In what small ways can one introduce light into a darkened world?
6. How do you pursue your inner light?
7. What is the most soulful gift you have given someone?
8. Would cultivating love & light in the heart be a painful process?
9. When do we know we are living a life that brings light & warmth to the world?