Be Light, Shine Bright

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that.”

These powerful words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whom we honor this month, seem just as relevant today as they did when he first wrote them in 1963.

The excitement of a promising new year was quickly overcome by darkness with a deadly terror attack in New Orleans in the earliest hours of New Year’s Day 2025. The darkness deepened with apocalyptic fires ravaging one of our country’s most stunning and largest cities, with thousands of lives and dreams forever changed. Concurrently, we mourned a former American President who modeled the best in character, goodness, and decency – as we approach the imminent inauguration of another former American President, whose character, divisiveness, and intentions deeply trouble millions of Americans, including me.

You don't have to look far to see that hearts are heavy and hurting everywhere.

It’s almost too much to take – until we realize that even in the darkest moments, the light continues to shine through. We see the light – that is, the best in others – in our heroic first responders, who run toward burning infernos to save lives and protect others. In mourners who celebrate and give thanks for a life well lived. In ourselves when we help our family, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and community in need – whether it’s by a kind word, a helping hand, or a selfless act of generosity.

Last January, I shared a blog post titled A New Year with More Heart, and wrote then that “…we’d all be better off if we stop ‘tearing apart’ and focus instead on showing more heart – at home, in the workplace, online, and in our community.”

I continue to stand by those words, and commit to not just bringing more heart to the world through my own words, work, and actions this year. I commit to being light wherever and however I can. Because just like that classic song from 1965 reminds us, what the world needs now is still love, sweet love.   

Unfortunately, we can’t just wish away the darkness that surrounds us. But we can, one person at a time, in simple ways, help drive out the darkness in our own corner of the world by committing to be light in the darkness. What does that look like? Being good and decent to others…doing small acts of kindness and generosity each day… and showing more empathy, compassion, and humanity. Because the darkness reminds us that there is light to be found everywhere – and that in the end, what matters most is each other.

Our world is calling us to be light and shine bright. My hope is that most of us answer that call, and we see brighter days ahead because of it.  

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I would be honored to help you bring more light and heart into your communication efforts, whether personal or professional. Visit www.martialbednar.com to see how I can be of service through inspired writing, powerful storytelling, book consulting and editing, or other creative communication solutions.