Be The Light

There are some things in life we feel are simply unforgivable. So horrific, in fact, that we question: What kind of a God would allow this to happen? We question why a loving God would allow countries to be at war and people to die of hunger. But as Marianne Williamson reminds us: ‘Thirty-five thousand people a day die of hunger on earth, and there’s no dearth of food. The question is not, “What kind of a God would let children starve?” but rather, “What kind of people let children starve?”

So are we to direct our anger away from God and towards our fellow brothers and sisters instead? As purging as this may initially feel; to vent and blame and shake our fists at all the darkness we see in the world, will only add to the hatred and misery in it. As we express our rage we further mar our planet with our own discontent.

To penetrate the darkness, we must become the light. But what if the darkness is too overwhelming to bare? Then we must pray that we will find the courage to be the light amidst the darkness, and that others will find the strength to do the same.

A Course in Miracles states: Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one.

Our goal, therefore, is to illuminate our corner of the world, however small that corner may be. To shine our light on all with whom we meet so that they too, can feel safe to do the same. It is our light, not our darkness, that will make a change.

You may have heard the tale of The Little Soul in The Sun, by Neale Donald Walsch, the story of a little soul who announces to God: “I know who I am!”

God smiled and said: “Who are you?” To which the little soul replied; “I am Light.”

“Yes you are,” replied God.

But the little soul, living amongst others who also shone with the perfect brilliance of God’s light, felt like a candle in the sun. Amidst the beautiful light of which the little soul was a part of, it could not see or experience itself as it really was. The little soul yearned to experience itself as Light.

And so one day, witnessing the little soul’s yearnings, God suggested: “Little Soul, if you really want to see yourself as you really are, then you must call upon the darkness. You must separate yourself from the rest of the light so that you can experience yourself as light amidst the darkness.”

“What is Darkness?” the little soul enquired inquisitively.

“That which you are not,” replied God, and the soul understood.

And so the little soul did. It separated itself from the light and experienced all sorts of darkness. At it’s deepest despair it called out to God, “Father Father why hast thou forsaken me?”  

God replied, “I have not forsaken you. I stand by you always, ready to remind you of who you really are; ready, always ready, to call you home. Therefore, be a light unto the darkness and curse it not. And forget not who you are in the moment of your encirclement by that which you are not.”

Little Soul in the Sun is a timeless parable which serves to reminds us that without darkness, there can be no light; without fear, we could never know love; without up, we could never experience down.

Let us not forget ourselves amidst the darkness, and may we always remember that we are the light.

In love and light,

Hayley xx

Dare to Dream

September 13^th

“Well, maybe it started that way. As a dream, but doesn’t everything. Those buildings. These lights. This whole city. Somebody had to dream about it first. And maybe that is what I did. I dreamed about coming here, but then I did it.” 

– James and the Giant Peach

On this day in 1916, one of the greatest story tellers of all time graced our planet with his boundless creativity and originality. His untethered imagination would eventually give birth to some of the most read children’s literature in our history, and even now, long after his death in 1990 – Roald Dahl’s books continue to fright and delight millions of children and adults across the globe.

Therefore, it seems appropriate to dedicate this day to dreaming.

Everybody has a dream, whether that dream is to grow your own potatoes, to become a Doctor in your field, or to ambitiously skydive across the Grande Canyon; whatever your wish, it began as a dream. And your dreams, however great or small, can be fulfilled. Dreams are possible.

‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe – it can achieve.’

– Napoleon Hill.

Thanks to Mr Dahl’s stories, a childhood dream was ignited within me. That dream has continued to dazzle and delight my existence, whether realized or not. The simple act of dreaming brings with it so much joy and pleasure, that it’s as though that dream is already fulfilled. And that is how we must dream, with such passion and clarity that it’s as if the experience were already ours.

Millions of children across the globe have delighted in Dahl’s, sometimes dark, yet mostly humorous and imaginative tales, and it is to his books that I owe my dreams of one day becoming an author.

Whether you enjoy Roald Dahl’s stories or not, we cannot deny that his books have graced the shelves of many, and will for many years to come.

Dreams are timeless. Dreams are possible. Today – dare to dream.