A Little Light

Daily Note
Every day, a photograph, a poem. Down the block from us, our neighbor has a stone lantern, which my friend Melvina explained is, in Japanese, an Ishidoro. This inspired my NaNoWriMo story, and as I loved the idea of it, I purchased three for us: two for the yard and one for the bay window.

The Ishidoro represents the five elements of Buddhism’s cosmology: earth, water, fire, air, spirit— a circle of life. Each of the three parts of the Ishidoro remind us of the elements:

• Bottom— Chi [earth]
• Middle [where the light is] — Ka [fire] and Sui [water]
• Top — Fu [air] [roof pointing up] and Ku [spirit] [round top]

I love the little light that shines at night from the energy of the sun on the solar cell. I love that the little light [fire] reflects a connection on the snow [water] and ground [earth], shining around and up to enlighten us, a spirit of the universe— billion year old carbon.

I love the little light, something we are to each other in dark times— even in a moment in time: a thank you to the mail carrier or store clerk, a wave to a neighbor or stranger, a nod of acknowledgement as we pass one another, masks on, protecting each other. We are the light of tomorrow for each other.

And remember that my #CLmooc friends and I have created a calendar of hope for 2022 that includes art, poetry, and music, which you can download and print [or add to your PDF reader on your device]. Click here for a preview and the download link: Welcome to 2022 A Collaborative Calendar. A little bit of shared light!

A Little Light

A little light is all we need
A little smile, a nod hello
A little light is all we need
For hope, for will, on we go

Sheri Edwards
010822 008.365.22
Poetry/Photography

A Little Light Music

I remember singing the children’s song, This Little Light of Mine— a gospel song of unknown origin. It’s uplifting, and I think of it when I see these lantern lights— and the idea that we can let our light shine.

Some people connect it to Christianity, but I connect it to the starlight from which we began. Doris McMurray recalled in 1939 that her grandmother taught her the verses:

This little light o’ mine, I’m goin’ let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Evrywhere I go, I’m goin’ let it shine (repeat)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
In my neighbor’s home, I’m goin’ let it shine (repeat)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Doris McMurray, Wikipedia

It became one of the anthems of the Civil Rights Movement, as this video of Bettie Mae Fikes, one whose version is best remembered from this time:

For a resource on this song and others as songs for justice, see this Smithsonian curriculum: Singing for Justice

The song reminds us of that light within— and sharing that good light lifts us all, as Marianne Williamson says,

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

~Marianne Williamson

Here, Odetta states the full quote and sings for us:

And to get your feet tapping and the light shining, join in with Bruce Springsteen in Dublin:

Let Your Light Shine!