“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In him was life, and that life was the LIGHT of men. The LIGHT shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood (overcome, used in the margin) it.” John 1, 4 and 5a NIV (capitalization mine)

     Last week our community called upon the LIGHT of the world to dispel the darkness that had shrouded us. At first the dark shocked us. Took our breath away. It left us crying, grieving, bewildered. A friend, a neighbor, a family member had been shot. Heads shook. Reporters researched answers. Doctors and paramedics worked feverishly to save lives.
     Hands gathered in public prayer circles throughout town in hope and to comfort for each other. Hearts spilled over in candles, signs, flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals. The grief reached across our nation, and in response the President of the United States came to encourage, comfort, and speak words of healing.
     The more we gathered in prayer and hope, the smaller the dark became.

     Last week, The LIGHT  came with life in prayer, scripture, song, counseling, banners, chains filled with words of hope, and in each other .We gathered on the spot where dark had staked its claim a month ago. Smiles and warm hugs wrapped one another in love. Crates of apples, the color of golden light were passed from employees affected emotionally by the tragedy to those of us blessing the site with a form of “holy water”–a cleansing from the LIGHT OF LIFE.

     Little tabernacles for prayer and compassion encircled the area. Soft Christian music drifted through the crowd. People drew close to each other as day turned to dusk, as men spoke God’s words and wisdom. Then throughout the parking lot, flickering candle lights illuminated the darkness. And it was no more.