There's a Light

I read an interview with John Records, who runs a shelter called COTS for homeless people in Petaluma, in the September issue of The Sun magazine. This quote by him really spoke to me:

It hurts sometimes to see people making what seem
like avoidable mistakes. I work with clients who have led terrible hard lives, and a few have a chip on their shoulder, but that attitude might be all that's left of their dignity and self-respect. I can understand that. The prayer of Saint Francis is essential to my perspective:

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is
darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

The amount of despair, darkness, and sadness in the world is just staggering. So regardless of whether you can help someone put his or her life back together, there is darkness you can light, despair to which you can offer hope. It doesn't really matter whether you think someone can be helped. It's great when it works out that way, but that's not necessarily why you do it.

"What Light" is a song by Wilco:

If you feel like singing a song

And you want other people to sing along

Then just sing what you feel

Don't let anyone say it's wrong

And if you're trying to paint a picture

But you're not sure which colors belong

Just paint what you see

Don't let anyone say it's wrong

And if you're strung out like a kite

Or stung awake in the night

It's alright to be frightened

When there's a light

What light

There's a light

What light

There's a light

White light

Inside of you

You think you might need somebody

To pick you up when you drag

Don't lose sight of yourself

Don't let anyone change you back

And if the whole world's singing your songs

And all you're paintings have been hung

Just remember what was yours is everyone's from now on

And that's not wrong or right

But you can struggle with it all you like

You'll only get uptight

When there's a light

What light

There's a light

What light

There's a light

White light

There's a light

White light

There's a light

One light

There's a light

White light

There's a light

One light

There's a light

White light

There's a light

One light

There's a light

One light

There's a light

White light

There's a light

White light

Inside of you

There's a light

White light

There's a light

White light

There's a light

White light

There's a light

One light