Today, I turn to one of my favorite spiritual authors, Henri J. M. Nouwen and I share with you a story from his book entitled, Finding my Way Home.
A rabbi asked his students: “How can we determine the hour of dawn, when the night ends and the day begins?”
One of the rabbi student’s suggested: “When from a distance you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep?”
“No,” was the answer of the rabbi.
“Is it when one can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?” asked a second student.
“No,” the rabbi said.
“Please tell us the answer, then.” said the students.
The wise teacher said, “It is when you can look into the face of another human being and you have enough light in you to recognize your brother or your sister. Until then it is night, and darkness is still with us.”
Let us pray for the light to deepen within that we might be instruments that shed light rather than darkness, and bring peace the world cannot give. May peace and light reign within me, in me, and through me!