January: Conspiracy of Light

 
​No matter which side of the great divide you find yourself on, there seems to be a consensus that we as a society are going through a rough patch, to put it mildly. I’ve certainly felt it, and I tend to be one who takes the long (and less excitable) view of history and evolution.

​I was bemoaning the current political, economic and ecological situation with a friend the other day when a phrase slipped out of my mouth that made us both stop dead in the midst of our conversation. Even with all the dark and scary things that are happening in the physical realm, I said that I couldn’t shake the sense that, underneath it all, everything was really working together perfectly for good in the world, as if there were some sort of conspiracy of light going on.
 
I love the subversiveness of co-opting that reactionary word – conspiracy – for such a radically optimistic and life-affirming movement. If there is a conspiracy of light going on, I’m joining it. I think we serve the conspiracy of light with every peaceful thought, kind word, smile, or compassionate action we take, no matter how small. And the conspiracy of light serves us back: It’s a two-way street. We are strengthened and made more joyful by everything we do to make others stronger and more joyful. I saw a cartoon by JM Nieto that perfectly expressed this. The captions went like this:
 
Why so optimistic about 2017? What do you think it will bring?
I think it will bring flowers.
Yes? How come?
Because I am planting flowers.
 
Let’s plant flowers now that will continue to bloom in 2017 and beyond. Let’s serve the conspiracy of light, and be conscious of and grateful for all the ways it serves us. And let's remember this: In the end, light will always win out over darkness. Love is always stronger than fear. Always.