Let's point out the obvious: I can't change the world, but I can change myself. I can't even change my husband. So the light I'm referring to is my inner light. Call it God or Self or Source or whatever. It can be defined by what it seeks: love, empathy, compassion, truth and mercy. We all might have different definitions of what those are. My light is readily palpable because I take the trouble to pay attention to it, rather than ignore it. It does not manifest as guilt, but often is mistaken as a "I should be this way". It's not exclusionary and judgemental of other people's perspectives. Everyone is doing the best that he or she can with the tools at his or her disposal.
One of the concepts I've been reading about lately on various blogs by hunters and meat eaters is that life requires death. Of course it does. If there is dark there has to be light. One can't exist, it can't even be defined, without the other. I'm aware that by not eating animals and their products I'm not saving the world at large and it's not without death and exploitation. Even typing this blog on my MacBook Pro required some heavy duty, nasty exploitation. I wish I could be omnipresent, or whatever it is to be everyone and everything, and just make all things my definition of what is compassionate, but I can't. I can only change my self to match up my actions with my inner heart of hearts the best I can without going nuts.
May everyone nurture their own light and have a happy 2011!
Right after I posted this, I got an email from my father in law which included this photo and text:
