Light in the Dark

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

I am heart sick tonight.

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Not because of the election.

Not because there’s a rumor that Drake and T. Swift are dating.

But because of a piece of news I heard just the other night.

Over the weekend, at my cousin’s university, there was a tragedy. His roommate: a kind, loving, and incredibly smart young man, passed away after being the victim of a hate crime.

For being Muslim.

He was jumped and ended up in a coma. He passed a day later.

How truly tragic.

I did not know this young man, but my cousin was his best friend and roommate. And it just pains my heart to think that someone could act out in hate towards another person like that.


There’s a lot of rhetoric going around lately about immigrants and muslims and walls and whatnot. It’s nauseatingly pervasive.

And to be quite honest, I don’t exactly know all of the politics surrounding all of these issues, but I do know that this young man did not deserve to die.

I sometimes think about what Jesus would think if He were to walk around on Earth today. How would He act? What would He say?

But the more I think about it, the world we live in now is not so unlike the world Jesus found Himself in. With religious tension, corrupt dictators, huge gaps between the haves and the have-nots, an underworld of vice…I mean, they were publicly flogging people, for crying out loud.

As they say, “same ‘crap,’ different day.”

And what did Jesus do?

He loved.

Everyone. 

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This young man fell victim to a person or persons, acting from a place of ignorance and darkness and hate.

What are we to do when that happens?

Truly. I’m asking. Because I am at a loss for words. Sickened by the lowness of humanity.

We are all children of God. No matter our religion. Our gender. Our race. The language we speak. What our income is. What our political slant is. We are all made by God.

We are all sisters and brothers.

Which, excuse the cliche, but it is the truth.

Perhaps if we were to approach how we talk to others, how we handle our disputes with our classmates or landlords, how our nation governs itself, how we treat the homeless, our veterans, the sick, the unborn, the mentally ill — each and every person — no exception — was made by God and is therefore inherently good.

Why can’t that be part of our worldview? Our foreign policy? The way we treat others?

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This young man, *sigh* I am just sickened by the cruelness of the world and my heart breaks for his family and friends and my cousin.

Yes, there is darkness in the world, but you and I, we can be lights.

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We can live our lives in a way that reminds those around us that there is goodness still. There is hope still. There is a reason to go on.

And if each of us lights up our own little dusty corner of the world, we can make a difference. Because light, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, it makes a difference. It shines and encourages others to do the same.

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I pray for those left behind in the wake of this tragedy, and I also pray for you reading this. That you and I may have the courage to be that light when the world is dark.

It matters.

Now more than ever.

It matters.

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329 thoughts on “Light in the Dark”

  2. I’m afraid my words may be inadequate against the heartache you must be feeling. My heart broke as i read this piece for you, for your cousin and for your cousin’s roommate. Hearing things like this makes me so sad and angry. How wicked does a person have to be to cause another person such harm and for no reason other than their difference from them. I’ll be praying for all involved and also that the culprits are found and made to face the consequences. The world is deteriorating. But God is still in charge and he will fight for the innocent. God bless you. Take care. ❤

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  3. Ohh my lovely, my heart goes out to his family and friends. This disconnection in our society can be healed with love. We can each flow love ❤ Hugs for you and your cousin. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  7. thank you for posting this. there can never be too much reminding that our path in life has been marked out and it is to love all of creation.

    too easily we forget that every bit of it is a miracle we share in and worthy of our love, attention and praise.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. The world is so broken. My heart aches for the boy who lost his life and his family, your cousin, and all who knew and loved him. My heart aches for the one or ones that attacked him as well. They too were made by God and therefore inherently good. I pray that God opens their eyes to his light and that they realize what they have done.

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  11. I am sick about this with you….I have a Global Campaign I want to start which is…
    “Save The Humans From Themselves”
    We seriously need to help each other survive…
    Regardless of Religion, Race, Socio-Economic Level or Sexual Preference
    Instead of killing each other because of different thought’s, Color, Amount of Money, or Sexual Preference.
    or The Human Race will Kill Itself Off.
    I am so sorry about your loss.
    Blessings and Join Me In my “Save The Humans from Themselves”

    Liked by 1 person

  12. We live in a “fallen world”. This present chaos isn’t what God intends for us to live in. Jesus came in love and He was crucified for not “going along” with the status quo. His love, compassion, and Godly character threatened the power structure of the religious elites. The climate in our current culture is one of hate and division, as promoted by some political agendas but we must remember as it says in Ephesians 6: 12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Jesus taught us to love, even in persecution, and not hate. Scripture plainly tells us we will reap that which we sow. If you sow wheat there is no way you will get a harvest of beans. If we, as Christians, sow in love and acceptance the world WILL reject us because of their convicted spirits, but they rejected Christ first. Satan sows hate and division in the hearts of those that rejects the loving gift of redemption and salvation from our Father God and Jesus’ obedience at the cross. We need to live in the good works God has prepared for us to do. We are not saved by good works but we are saved unto good works as it tells us in Ephesians 2:10. My heart goes out to the family of the man that was killed because of hate, just like Caine killed his brother Able. Our enemy is Satan. We need to love people, and hate sin. Sorry if I got a little long winded but many people respond to only what they see and scripture tells us of the spiritual conflict that goes on outside of our physical realm.

    I am an old man so I remember the song, “what the world needs now is love” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUaxVQPohlU

    Liked by 3 people

  13. Sometimes in our tradition, when someone is hurting so bad and you equally hurt same for them, it’s so thoughtful that you just go and sit by them and say nothing until it’s time for you to leave. I personally have appreciated such emotional support in my losses. Dear princess Carolyn, visualize me right there just sitting until the wee hours before I nod and leave… To Him we life our supplication in Jesus’ mighty name Amen

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  16. Hello again beautiful light-bearer
    For a long time I have said, and still maintain that for this new paradigm we need a new cosmology. Religion is based on history and tradition, while faith is based on spirituality. There is no future for us other than universalism. What sounds sentimental ‘we are all brothers and sisters’ is absolutely fundamentally true. Which is an ironic choice of language since it is fundamentalism that stands in our way, asserting superiority/righteousness/favour of one group above another legitimised by ‘God’s holy word’! and thereby justifying acts of prejudice and hate. You are right – what would Jesus think. When Jesus said ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, no-one can come to the Father except through me’ was he condoning sectarianism – exclusive membership of a club which never existed then, and certainly he was never a member of! Or did he mean, my way – the example of my life and awareness of the ‘I am’ presence (what some might call Christ consciousness) within each one of us. His way was unconditional, universal love. Ultimately there is only Love. God, our source is Love, and he is our eternal home. ALL OF US.
    I feel for your pain, and at the same time are encouraged and heartened by your compassion and understanding. You are so right – now more than ever before that light of the ‘enlightened’ needs to shine more brightly and not be hidden. Speak out, and continue to speak out beautful soul against all forms of hatred, even when it is thinly disguised in the most unexpected places.
    You may find the following blog interesting if you don’t already follow it…
    https://johnsmallman2.wordpress.com/2016/10/14/all-your-fears-and-anxieties-are-baseless/
    Much love dear sister and friend. Xxx❤️

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    1. Hi Valentina, wow that sounds really powerful. I’m not super familiar with all the ins and outs of brexit but I know how divisive it was. And segregation is never something we should stand for. Thanks for your thoughts. Hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Hi Caralyn ❤️. I haven’t been keeping up with blogging over the past several weeks, and for that I apologize. I was neither reading nor writing much, and as notifications of new posts piled up in my inbox, I felt more and more daunted about “falling behind,” thinking, “I will never catch up,” and further avoiding WordPress. For some reason, I read the first few lines of this post, and you snapped me out of my complacency.

    You remind me of the radical call to a different life – one that is not defined by the way the world evaluates what is “good,” “just,” or “true” (or “good enough”). The love of Jesus is a radical love that calls us to be totally fearless. You are so right that all of these xenophobic messages about immigration and the dangers posed by refugees, etc. come from places of fear. Those fears are not unfounded. Simply look to the heinous crimes like the mass of rapes that were committed in Cologne. Yet, Jesus calls us to love BEYOND our fear, despite the tremendous risks. He himself is the model for how to do this, and he ended up on a cross, so we can expect that in this broken world, we will get hurt along the way, but that is why we need to strengthen and encourage each other. I think of the passage from 1 John 4:18-19. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” All we can do is love back, fiercely and defiantly, and not succumb to the same fear and hate that brought us to this point. With love, we stop the cycle of punishment, retribution, pain, and anger, which only leads to more violence. Thank you for speaking up about this topic, especially in this politically charged climate. I wholeheartedly stand by your side. Six billion little lights would set the world on fire! It starts with each one of us, but we don’t have to struggle alone. The Holy Spirit is with you, and me, and each one of us. I am praying for us, and sending you much love. And, in this month of remembrance of All Saints and All Souls, I am praying for your cousin’s friend, that he may know the peace the world cannot give. xoxoxo

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  24. Awesome post. Thanks for sharing this disturbing news. I will definitely be praying with you for God to comfort your cousin and the family of this young man. What a horrible loss for all of them.

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  26. This is such a true and heartfelt post. I am so sorry to hear of your cousin’s best friend’s death, it is just so sad.

    You have inspired me to try to become more like Jesus, and be a lamp for this dark world. 🙂

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  27. I don’t propose to know the reason for this crime, as by your account this young man was an average guy attending college, and I can’t know the minds of the people who committed this evil act.
    I agree with you in your belief that we are all created by the same creator, but to say we are all inherently good is a contradiction to my understanding of mankind, starting with Adam and Eve; both chose to willfully disobey their creator after being deceived by the author of evil. Their first son is the first recorded murderer of mankind; he having killed his own flesh and blood sibling.
    This is dangerous times across our world–for people of all walks of life. There is a possibility this crime was rooted in fear–which is in no way a justification. My concern is this is just a sampling of what is to come, particularly towards Christians: as to Islam we are “infidels” (unbelievers).
    To understand the teachings of the Quran is to understand the roots of fear when it comes to those who embrace Islam. Here is one sampling:
    Quran (9:123) – “O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness.”
    The following link is where I found it: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/violence.aspx
    To view more Quran quotes is to better understand where fear may stem from.
    Please understand I do not condone violence against any people, but sadly I recognize we do not live in a safe world. I do not see a one world religion as the answer, because I know all people do not worship the same God.
    I believe those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ are to proclaim His gospel and, as you stated, be a light in this dark world.
    Gospel: God offering sinful people eternal life.

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    1. Hi there, thank you so much for this reflection. I’ve never heard that acronym of the gospel, but I like it! God Offering Sinful People Eternal Life. So true. And thank you for this perspective. I am not familiar with the teaching of the Quran, but I do know that we are to love our neighbor. I’ll definitely have to read that link. Thanks for passing it along. Hugs and love xox

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  29. A beautiful post. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah. Ameen. I am sorry to hear this. So much hate in the world. But also so much hope and love from people like you.

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  30. Very said, my thoughts and well wishes are with your cousin. The only thing we can do is try to put as much kindness into the world even when hatred pushes back. It’s why I’m a nurse. I love helping people, regardless if they’re people who are unkind or cruel. I don’t know why they became they way they did, it’s not my story to tell, but I help them to hopefully inspire them to make a change in their lives and help others. Maybe I’ve done that, maybe I haven’t, but I’ll keep trying for as long as I live.

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  32. I am sorry for your cousin’s loss and for the heartbreak caused to this young man’s family and loved ones. As you say, only the light and love of God can transform the hearts of bigots. We need to cry out to God in prayer and intercession.

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  33. So very sad..my sympathies to your cousin and this young man’s family.
    And how ironic, that on this same day, a first for me, I took a Muslim family to the park; the mother dressed in full hijab and not able to speak one word of English. She left everything she knows…I just wanted to be a friend, some light.

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  36. These senseless acts of violence sadden me as well and we can only pray for change. As a parent I think it could be my son that another decides should be unjustly attacked or killed based on that individual’s hatred and intolerance. By writing about this you have spread your light and kindness to others.

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  37. Very heart breaking that our once great country is going through this. Even for agnostics and anti-Clintons such as me.

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  38. So sorry. You hear about these things happening but it is really tough when it hits close to home. The actions of a few should not lead to blanket condemnation of an entire religion of approximately one billion followers. I used to teach English as a Second Language. Classes included probably hundreds of Muslims over the years, so I can say there are a lot more good people among them than bad. There were a few I had problems with, but that was true of any religion, race, ethnicity, or nationality.
    Any way you group people (including Christian or American, by the way), there are going to be some good and bad among them. That seems so obvious to me, but I am still amazed how many people there are who don’t see that. And this campaign season hasn’t helped – they’re rapists, murderers, ban all of them from coming into the country… I really think his rhetoric has a part in stirring up hatred like this. Well, don’t get me started. Anyway, take care. I’m sending hugs and prayers your way. ooX

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    1. Thank you so much for this insight David, I know, it is incredibly sad and tragic. You’re right-grouping people deduces them to just a “lump” instead of seeing each person as the precious and unique individual that they are. I appreciate your perspective! Hugs and love xox

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  40. Well said! I’m totally with you on this. And it’s tragic that we don’t understand love. This IS the problem! And God IS love, so we cannot say we know God and not love others. My prayer is that we embrace the One who has embraced us and learn how to love one another like He loves us. Amen.

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  42. Very well said and sadly much needed. It can be hard to remember that how we think and behave matters in the face of such events but it IS. Every reminder is a big help, and a support in knowing we are not alone in trying to live Love.

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  44. Terrible, terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to his family and friends. If only people in the world would realize that we are all Children Of God then we all would be a better place filled with love and compassion. It is so easy for people to get lost in different beliefs and find themselves in a place that isn’t suitable in God’s eyes but they can’t see. Today things have really gotten out of control and we need prayer like never before. It is through God that all people and all things can be fixed, not man. Who are we to judge another and decide what is best for this country or this world. I personally can relate to the hate. Be Blessed.

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    1. Hi Corrie, yeah this was such a heart wrenching tragedy. You’re right-we need prayer now more than ever. I’m sorry that you can personally relate. We’ve got to remember that though the world can be cruel, God is still good and loves us. Sending big hugs my friend xox

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  46. I pray that God’s love will be made evident in spite of all the evil that has been done. May God heal the broken hearted and mend yours, your cousins, and his friend’s families spirits as well as the people who did this senseless act of violence.

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  47. I am sorry for the loss of your cousin’s friend. Hate is never an easy thing, but it seems for those in this world to inflict upon others. It is like a virus that spreads through the air. It is just so sad to hear when someone is senselessly killed. He was someone’s child. So very sad. I will be keeping his family and yours in my prayers.
    I owe you an apology. I think in a different post that I called you Ana. I apologize. Have a blessed weekend.

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  48. Sorry for the loss of your cousin’s friend. I am constantly saddened by the hatred that made this happen. You are so correct when you say we are all children of God and we are called to be light and love.

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