Last month I wrote about the arts as a means of spiritual expression, indicating that some thoughts and concepts may not be easy to capture in prose words. Towards the end of August Dolly Parton died and the world, regardless of race religion, gender, identity mourned. Dolly Parton held a deep Christian faith with deeply held Christian values that played out in every part of her life….. and touched people and resonated with people, regardless of their protected characteristics.
As we approach the Autumn equinox towards the end of September, our minds turn to thoughts of shorter hours of daylight, leaves changing from green to a forest coat of many colours as those leaves complete the work they have been doing capturing sunlight and converting it into energy. Soon those leaves will be falling and we will truly enter the dark part of the year.
There is much darkness in our world today. Hate, division, manipulation and conflict can feel overwhelming. Historically, the dark part of the year was a time we would gather together, a time when supporting others in our community was vital to our own futures. Our community is a coat of many colours, rich and beautiful in it’s diversity. In supporting our community with all that diversity, reaching out to be sure their futures and ours are secured by connection, by mutual support and care, we engage in a small but important act of resistance to division and hatred, and those small acts of resistance can be a beacon in the darkness, lighting the way for others who are feeling the sense of overwhelm, of overshadowing darkness.
Dolly Parton was such a beacon. When we connect with others we discover the light they bring to our shared beacon. We use our own spark to light the beacon in others.
In November, the 8th to 15th, we enter interfaith week https://www.interfaithweek.org/ whose theme this year is “Lighting the way to a shared future.” It’s a great opportunity to add your spark to help light the beacon in others and to have the spark from others light the beacon in you, giving each one of us an opportunity to add our colour to the rich and beautify community coat.
Mike Stygal
Belief and Education Officer
Contact Mike here