As Psalm 119 reads, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Light is a symbol of that deep wisdom which is able to penetrate to the truth. Light is the source of goodness and illuminates the way. Light emanates from the divine, and is a symbol for wholeness and courage, illumination and hope. Light is such a strong image in many religious traditions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others. A single candle pierces the darkness.Ī Chinese proverb reminds us that “It is better to light a single candle than curse the darkness.” A candle is a small answer to a large problem, but it is a worthy and valuable step in the right direction. At the same time, the light from a single candle is enough to enlighten a room. Hope is very much like a flickering candle. In such moments, our hope seems so frail. We are the stewards of hope in times when that hope seems most vulnerable. This is what people of faith, morality, and conscience do. They were calling on legislators to also affirm life by banning the ridiculously easy purchase of guns and other instruments of death.Įach student, after speaking the name of someone who was killed, would light a candle, and then cradled it against their chest as they walked to the nearby State Capitol at the head of the assembled crowd. They were boldly affirming life in the face of senseless death. These young people were speaking and doing something beautiful in response to something which was ugly and pointless.
I can still feel the awe and emotion of that moment. I am happy because I came here for hope …” He slowly scanned the crowd -and then continued “…and here you are.”
One of the young speakers approached the microphone and said, “I am happy to be here today. Each of them spoke the name of a teenager or adult who was murdered. As the memorial service began, 17 local students came to the microphone. Even through the screen, I could feel the heaviness of the moment, which befitted the gravity of the moment.īut there was something else - a palpable sense of defiant joy. It was largely planned by teenagers, those most directly affected. They were asking why we have to do this again. As happens altogether too frequently, people came together a few days later to remember those who died, to grieve their premature passing, and to lament the violence that seems to be accelerating. I was remembering this event this past week, and what struck me again with renewed force is what happened afterwards. It was another horrific massacre, something which has become all too common. He killed 14 students and 3 staff members and injured 17 other people. Two years ago, on February 14, a gunman opened fire with a semi–automatic rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
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