Lighting a Candle of Hope to Banish the Gloaming

Hello everyone –

It’s been another difficult week to watch, listen to, or read the news. Stories of hatred and violence, both within and beyond the United States, are once again dominating the headlines. At times like these, we may be tempted to wonder if the world can really be improved by our ongoing efforts. Despite tragic setbacks, I still have faith in the future and in humanity’s ability to rise to the occasion and forge a new pathway through the third millennium – a pathway that leads to justice, freedom, and peace for all humankind. Below are two songs that brought hope and encouragement to me in the days and weeks following 9/11/2001; they still speak to us today, very loudly and clearly, and remind us to “keep on keeping on,” no matter how dark it may get before the dawn.

“Where My Heart Will Take Me”

(Theme from STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE)

Lyrics by Diane Warren

It's been a long road, getting from there to here.

It's been a long time, but my time is finally near. 

And I will see my dream come alive at last. I will touch the sky.

And they're not gonna hold me down no more, no they're not gonna change my mind.

Cause I've got faith of the heart.

I'm going where my heart will take me. 

I've got faith to believe. I can do anything. 

I've got strength of the soul. And no one's gonna bend or break me. 

I can reach any star. I've got faith, faith of the heart.

You can watch the opening sequence of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE here, featuring the theme song as performed by Russell Watson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPn-lTytfGo

“Who Would True Valor See”

By John Bunyan (1628-1688)

(Excerpted from Pilgrim’s Progress, 1678-1684)

Who would true valor see,

Let him come hither;

One here will constant be

Come wind, come weather.

There's no discouragement

Shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent

To be a Pilgrim.

Who so beset him round

With dismal stories,

Do but themselves confound,

His strength the more is.

No lion can him fright,

He'll with a giant fight,

But he will have a right

To be a Pilgrim.

Hobgoblin, nor foul fiend

Can daunt his spirit;

He knows he at the end

Shall life inherit.

Then fancies fly away,

He'll fear not what men say,

He'll labor night and day

To be a Pilgrim.

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – “Where Do We Go From Here,” 1967

Until next time –

Rob :)