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QoTD: The Light from Within
People are like stained – glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. —Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross knew a lot about living and dying; she was well-known for her studies on the stages of grief. I appreciate her simile of the stained-glass window for a number of reasons. It points to the human soul, its complexity and beauty. Like the stained-glass window, our own inner loveliness or ugliness is revealed, depending on the light we allow in; that is, those times we try to be transparent, to let others see who we are, when we allow ourselves to be illuminated, revealed and understood.
In a world where the darkness of events seems to dominate our worldview, we may believe that the sunlight cannot penetrate to our souls. That darkness seems perpetual, seemingly unaffected by those brief moments of joy and possibility.
But what seems like reality is only illusion. Within the direst situations, there is also light. It’s hard for us to notice the light, because we are so overwhelmed by storm clouds that seem ever-present. But the light is always available to brighten our spirits. We only need to remember that it is there, for us to share it with those around us and become a window to the world.
Published in Group Writing
I started out as clear glass, but I keep dropping food on my belly. These stains aren’t coming out.
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Preach it, sister!