A decade ago, rare winter tornadoes created a path of destruction across the South. Six weeks later, I joined a team from my church in Columbus, OH to travel to Birmingham, AL. Our mission was to help families rebuild their homes destroyed by tornadoes.
Every good act, every healing gesture, lights a candle of hope. – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
We connected through Habitat for Humanity Birmingham. Habitat united our team with Jewish and Muslim students on their spring break from the Univ. of Michigan. The students were building bridges between the two cultures by working on a common cause. Together, we helped the Patterson family of Birmingham rebuild their home.
God and Habitat have a sense of humor connecting us. Consider the situation. Christians, Jews and Muslims working together despite their long history of conflict. Buckeyes, Wolverines, and Crimson Tide working alongside each other despite their autumn rivalries. Our teams provided labor. Habitat provided resources, structure and knowledge to guide us. Together we provided a little light to rebuild lives, homes and community.
Lamps are different, but light is the same. - Rumi
Our diverse group was aligned as one, bringing light and hope to heal part of our world.
'A little light', said the Jewish mystics, 'drives away much darkness.' And when light is joined to light, mine to yours and yours to others, the dance of flames, each so small, yet together so intricately beautiful begins to show that hope is not an illusion. Evil, injustice, oppression, cruelty do not have the final word. - To Heal a Fractured World by Rabbi Jonathon Sacks
Lights from Michigan and Ohio joined lights in Alabama. Ordinary people offering generous act of courage inspires others and shows hope is not an illusion.
Your organization is a light on a hill bringing hope to our community. Like Habitat Birmingham, you connect resources, structure and knowledge to heal our fractured world. When your organization's light connects to light from volunteers, donors, partners and stakeholders it begins to show that hope and growing mission impact is not an illusion.
“Everything exposed to the light becomes light.” -Ephesians 5:13–14
Invite champions to share their light.
Shalom,
Wes Legg
