Little Lovely Light

Today’s Morning Prayer reminds me again to praise God and focus on the Good News.  

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

“Whatever is lovely”... I wonder if a journalist was ever asked in a job interview, “Tell me about a story you covered that was lovely.”

Yet there is something compelling about lovely stories. Not overly sentimental, Utopian fluff, but real accounts of simple perseverance and everyday valor.

A few such stories have come across my being recently. (I don’t have a desk; rather face to face interactions with people are mostly where I get my stories).

My co-worker got a new job as a headmaster at our sister school. He taught for six years at the school where I teach and is perfect for this new job. His students’ witness is also a testament to his formation of them and the students’ faith in the power of prayer. They prayed for him all year for a “special intention”—which could be anything; their consistent appeal was heard by God.

Two friends got the jobs for which I interviewed this year before I decided to teach again next year. I am so happy for them! The jobs are interesting and they are well fitted for the positions.

A friend who has lived as a single parent for five years, was not religious and was adverse to marriage is excited at the prospect of a relationship with a Christian man.

Another friend got a new job closer to her house.

And all of my seven first graders were promoted to second grade! Before the graduation Mass last Friday I asked my students what we need to remember when we are in a public forum.

“To act as butlers,” one of my students said with the confidence that comes from a year of training in this subject.

“Ambassadors,” I corrected with such enthusiasm that she probably thought she said that word herself.

I also went to a farm last weekend and talked with a man who had Asperger’s. He interacted with the world in a refreshing way.

“Do you know that person?” asked another farm guest of this man.

“Hmm. I don’t know. Let me see,” he said as he quickly got up and left the room to go look at the person this other farm guest mentioned.

He got up to see. That is lovely and honorable. He took the question seriously and acted. He recognized the importance of each person.

Another man took care of the bees. He opened the hives to show me and another guest the secret inner workings and hours later, brought honey combs to us so we could taste the first fruits of the season. It took him a while to check the hives, which he did with gentle attentiveness, then he thought of sharing his love for the bees and their products with us.

St. John wrote, “Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you.” (12:35). Flickers of light appear every day. If I catch them and watch them glow like fireflies in a peanut butter jar, the darkness will fade away.

Thank you God for Little. Daily. Light. Lovely Good News.