Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

[Reprinted from Journey of Joy, by Barbara Howard, Herald House, 1990]

In my reading, I came across the word bioluminescence. This word describes a marine phenomenon that occurs in a village on the south shore of Puerto Rico. Captains of charter boats tell the passengers to look astern at a specific time. The wake is brilliantly aglow.

“That radiance,” says the captain, “comes from thousands of protozoa. When one tiny protozoan comes in contact with another, the nerves of one trigger the light of the other. They can’t light up on their own. They have to touch one another to do it.”

The lesson was clear to me. What is true in marine life is also true in the lives of human beings. We can live alone and to ourselves if we wish, but we cannot light up. We have to touch others to do that. Often little things can touch others and “light up their lives”: a handshake, a smile, a hug. We must reach out to others to light this world of darkness.

Prayer Phrase

“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

Spiritual Practice

Light

Close your eyes and become centered with your breath. As you breathe gently in and out, reflect on the statement, “The light of God is in all things.” The light has a bright, soft beauty and radiates God’s healing love. The light of God reaches you and permeates you with a deep sense of peace. Rest in the light as it surrounds and fills you. Thank God that you live in God’s light, and it lives in you.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.