With the news of the murders at the Tree of Life in Pittsburgh my heart has broken more, which I thought wasn’t possible. I have found myself turning off the news or turning down the sound when announcers start telling the story of those who died. I know they were human beings. I know they had lives full of love, friends and family. I know their lives mattered in this world, but I can’t get to know them, it hurts too much.

So what do we do? If we each carry only one candle how do we break the darkness of this world? So many people are saying to speak up. Don’t be silent. But I am starting to remember what Thumper rabbit learned from his father, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” It seems that our words are not helping. It seems that even good intentioned people are talking so loudly they can not hear anyone else.

Silence can be deceiving. To some folks it seems as if you are not doing anything. It seems that there is no movement. But to those who see a silent person as still, remember we are human and our minds are full of action. When we take time to be silent we engage our other gifts, listening, seeing, learning, and growing. When we are silent we can listen to the hurts of others, we can see where the needs are, we can learn how to walk in our neighbor’s shoes and we grow in our knowledge and understanding. Practicing silence is exercising other gifts So this week, in the midst of the darkness I am practicing silence. I am looking for where I can be a helper.

I have listened deeply and I believe I am being called to hold a candle in silence. I will hold your hand, I will pray with you, I will support you. But my support may not be loud, it may not be as visible as you would like, it might be not be as active as your expected. Don’t mistake my silence for apathy. My love is as deep as the roots of a tree. In the roots you will find great strength.

I will hold my candle and offer you light in the darkness to light your candle again. That is how hope is passed. That is my gift to find hope just when you thought it was lost.