Practicing Courage #11: Only light can drive out darkness

"If we are looking for light in the darkness, sometimes it doesn't appear until we create it."   - Samantha Novick

In moments of great tragedy, pain, uncertainty, loss, and suffering I often look for perspective, and for practices, that help me to find some light in the darkness.

Often these practices (for me) are found in community, with friends, and through conversations on the podcast.

This past week with the war beginning in Israel it is again one of these times as some of the worst parts of humanity have been fully on display, and the enormity of the challenges and the suffering that is unfolding is immense. 

And in the midst of things, I was reminded of a conversation I had in 2020 with Samantha Novick. 

I  first met Samantha, who goes by Sam, in Parkland Florida.

At the time I had flown to Parkland to sit down for a  podcast conversation with students  and community organizers after the mass shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 

Sam was one of the community organizers who helped support students in the aftermath and helped coordinate the March for Our Lives event there. 

During that conversation I listened as they shared how they were:

• Finding hope
• Transforming pain into purpose
• Getting through such a tragedy
• And ultimately why they chose to spread messages of kindness and love in response to such hatred. 

It was extraordinary to hear their responses, and to witness what is possible for human beings in the face of such dark times.  

Fast forward to 2020 and I found myself sitting with Sam again. 

And again we explored how she finds light, hope, and joy in the face of immense challenges. Including being in the throes of the pandemic, an election year in the US, civil rights protests...the list went on. 

And while the context, the events, and the time is different than it was then, there are emotional undertones that are similar. 

My hope is that if you are sitting with the immensity of recent events, that messages that Sam shared by way of her own story and experiences might be helpful to hear today, including:

• The role of self-compassion and giving oneself permission to feel
• Getting out in nature
• Remembering challenging events throughout history to gain perspective
• And doing kind acts for others

As a close to today's practice I  will invite questions to explore what might help to find, and create light, in the coming days and weeks. 

Hear the full conversation with Sam Novick from 2020 here: 

• Choosing to Look for the Good

Thanks for practicing with us. 

Til next time,
-Joshua

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