One Bright Light
Standing on the platform the very first day of my new morning commute, out of the darkness came this booming voice. “Good morning, everyone. Happy Tuesday!” I looked around to see where the voice was coming from and there stood a petite woman in a Sound Transit reflective jacket with a beaming smile on her face. Never mind that most of the barely awake commuters responded to her greeting, she continued on as the train pulled into the station. “Have a great day!” With her morning ritual – saying hello individually and giving everyone a big, cheery sendoff – she is a bright light, joyfully shining whether others acknowledge it or not.
A recent session at the HYPE Center even more vividly – and literally – expresses the essence of shining a light. Founder Nancy Rebecca was starting the group meditation when a young woman, new to the circle entered the room. Mia (name changed) was deaf, and she was uncertain as to whether she could participate, though, she noted, she was a lip reader. Sessions are usually done with the lights off or dimmed; it tends to soothe many of the young people, some of whom expressed concern about not turning off the lights. But then, someone had a good idea. Nancy could hold a flashlight beneath her chin so Mia could see her lips, but the light wouldn’t disturb the others. It worked! Mia communicated that she saw her aura in vivid blues, with bluebirds – symbols of happiness — flying around. She felt her light within. Making a simple accommodation created a deeply meaningful experience for all.
That same day we learned of more progress at the HYPE Center. The staff reported that about half of the young people have been placed in housing and they’re seeing fewer kids on the street. The counselor observed that Soul Seeds is the only consistent presence of outside groups (we’ve been going there since September 2021). She said to the youth, Soul Seeds represents a light of love and hope.
And we’re confident that our light is attracting more people to our work. The February Free Healing Friday had more than 30 people attend, including one of the residents of Bay Terrace Apartments. We are excited to know that the word is getting out and people are responding. A big thank you to the volunteers who were exhausted but delighted with the turnout.
Many of us wonder, what is our purpose? Am I doing what I was called to do on Earth at this time? For me, this quote puts it into perspective. “’What is my purpose in life?’ I asked the void. [The response] ‘What if I told you that you fulfilled it when you took an extra hour to talk to that kid about his life? … Or when you tied your father’s shoes for him? Your problem is that you equate your purpose with goal-based achievement. The Universe isn’t interested in your achievements… just your heart. When you choose to act out of kindness, compassion, and love, you are already aligned with your true purpose….” – Tao & Zen
Similarly, an article in Greater Good Magazine highlights a new book, Awe by Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., sourced from a study done in 26 countries, in 20 languages with 2,600 narratives. Its findings may surprise you. “What most commonly led people to feel awe? Nature? Spiritual practice? Listening to music? In fact, it was other people’s courage, kindness, strength, or overcoming… Around the world, we are most likely to feel awe when moved by moral beauty: exceptional virtue, character, and ability, marked by a purity and goodness of intention and action … Over 95% of the moral beauty that stirred awe worldwide was in actions people took on behalf of others.”
I would say that makes answering our calling considerably clearer and more attainable. Being that one bright light for others could change their lives and yours. Let’s all be willing to give it a try.
Melanie Davis-Jones (she/her/hers) Executive Director
In Case You Missed It:
Laughing in the Dark | Blog by founder, Nancy Rebecca
Grounding Meditation | Learn what grounding is and how to apply it practically into your life. (Scroll down to the bottom of the web page.)
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