A New Kind of Brightness

We recognize that suffering and joy are deeply intertwined, even when we don’t fully understand the connection. As we face our pain, whether personal or shared, we find that joy can still emerge, even in the midst of hardship. This isn’t about finding happiness; it’s about moments of clarity that allow us to experience a sense of lightness. Tears are a fitting response to the reality of suffering, but they do not signify defeat. Instead, they reflect an honest acceptance of what is. In that acceptance, we find a new kind of brightness—a clarity that opens us to solidarity with others and allows us to hold both sorrow and joy within the same space.

May we embrace both sorrow and joy with open hearts,
finding clarity in our pain and strength
in our shared journey toward peace.

(inspired by Mike Petrow, Paul Swanson, and Richard Rohr, A Bright Sadness with Christian Wiman)